Aberargie Distillery, located just south of Scotland’s Highland line, embraces a rich and fruity whisky style that contrasts with traditional Lowland profiles. Owned by the Morrison family, it uses only Golden Promise barley grown on its own farms. This variety contributes a distinctive waxy texture to the new make spirit, complemented by fruity notes and occasional smoky characteristics from peated production runs.
The whisky matures in a range of casks, including first-fill ex-Sherry butts, first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels from Woodford Reserve, and second-fill Sherry/Bourbon casks, creating Aberargie’s rich flavor profile. The distillery operates as a “barley to bottle” facility, performing every step of production on-site except for malting, which is handled by Simpsons.
Every drop of spirit produced is reserved for Aberargie single malt, although some may be diverted into Morrison & Mackay’s whisky liqueurs, such as Bruadar. This distillery marks a return to distilling for the Morrison family, who have a storied history in the industry. Stanley P. Morrison previously owned Bowmore in the 1960s and laid the foundation for Morrison Bowmore, now part of Beam Suntory.
In 2005, the family re-entered the whisky world by acquiring a majority stake in the Scottish Liqueur Centre. This move led to the revival of the Old Perth blended malt brand in 2014 and the development of the Carn Mor range. Seeking expansion, the Morrisons decided to utilize their 300-acre farm in Aberargie, where they had long grown barley for maltsters.
In 2016, construction began on both a blending and bottling hall and the Aberargie Distillery, which operates under The Perth Distilling Company. Distilling trials began in late 2017, and the first cask was filled on November 1 of that year. The distillery represents a commitment to producing premium single malt while staying connected to the family’s deep roots in whisky production.
