The anticipated Aberargie whisky debut will arrive in March 2026 from specialist global retailers, and early access registration is now open on their website.
Owned by the Morrison family, Aberargie Distillery is located on 300-acre farm near Perth. Established in 2017, Aberargie represents the Morrison family’s return to single malt whisky production following a 23-year hiatus after the sale of Morrison Bowmore in 1994.
Speaking on our Scran podcast, Brian Morrison told us about the family's rich distilling heritage and what it means to be back in distilling.
He said: "It all started in 1963 when my father, Stanley P. Morrison, who had been a whisky broker for many years, got the opportunity to buy Bowmore distillery on Islay in the summer of 1963.
"We distilled at Bowmore for many years until we sold to Suntory in 1995. I'm just on the outside but it's wonderful to see (the family back in distilling). I'm very proud of Jamie (Brian's son who is the chairman of the company), it's a great family thing, it's pleasing."
On selling Bowmore to Suntory and what it meant to the Islay community, as the Morrison family had done a lot for the locals, Mr Morrison said: " They've been wonderful guardians. They really have, they've given a lot to the village.
"We had an old warehouse at the Bowmore distillery that we gave to the community, which is now the the swimming pool and gymnasium. So it's wonderful for Islay."
But now, nine years on from Aberargie laying down its first casks in 2017, the distillery is now preparing to introduce its first barley-to-bottle single malt Scotch whisky.
To mark the milestone and honour five generations of tradition and whisky-making, the state-of-the-art Aberargie has released a behind-the-scenes look at the distillery, from field to bottle.
From farm-grown barley to distilling, warehousing, blending, and right down to bottling, the independent family-run distillery prepares to unveil its whisky after almost a decade of patience next year.
It has been quite a wait for this single malt launch, but Mr Morrison explained that the family and staff have "been waiting patiently.
He said: " It's having the other brands in the portfolio that provided the impetus to the business to wait, and having the stocks too, which is absolutely essential."
Mr Hendriksz added: "Also the family's long-term vision that, you know, they're obviously well versed in the whisky industry with experience.
"We know that the whisky industry is a long-term game and you need patience because the stock needs to be ready and be mature. The commitment from the family, from an investment point of view, allows us the opportunity to wait until we are a hundred percent comfortable with the liquid quality."
Aberargie is one of the few distilleries in Scotland to operate a barley-to-bottle philosophy, using heritage Golden Promise barley grown on the fields in front of the distillery, as well as Laurette barley from the two other family farms.
This approach allows Aberargie to oversee the quality of raw materials from the outset. All barley varieties are grown to the family’s own standards, with full provenance, terroir and traceability embedded across the seed to spirit process.
Central to the distillery’s production philosophy is Golden Promise, the heritage barley variety once favoured by leading Scotch producers throughout the 1960s and 70s.
Although lower yielding than modern strains, Golden Promise is grown at Aberargie for its flavour benefits, producing a full-bodied, malty new make spirit with notable oiliness and depth.
Of this barley, Mr Morrison said: " Golden Promise was a favoured variety of barley back in the sixties and seventies and eighties, and it went out of fashion because it wasn't very profitable for the farmers.
"The yields were low and the maltsters also got, got a low yield out of it and really for the distillers, what was paramount was the flavors that came from Golden Promise.
" I seem to remember Highland Distillers, with Glenrothes, Glenglassaugh and Macallan, back in those days they were heavily (made with) Golden Promise barley. But the yields were not good enough. However, it has come back in to a number of single distilleries that are favouring it, including ourselves."
Mr Hendriksz explained there’s a difference between Aberargie and other new distilleries, saying: “We’re more traditional.
"With Aberargie, we've never set out to be a distillery to be necessarily recruiters. We're not running after high balls or cocktails. We are for the whisky drinker and we say it is patiently curated for special moments.
"Now, special moments for me is such a lovely term because it can mean so many different things – you're off to a wedding and that is a very special moment, but a special moment for me could be myself and Brian sitting alone, just sharing a dram.
"It could be myself sharing a dram with my brother, or a friend. It could also be just me sitting on my own from time to time, and I consider that a very special moment.”
Graeme Mackeddie, head of distilling at Aberargie Distillery, said: “Since filling our first casks in 2017, we’ve been patiently waiting for the moment Aberargie would be ready to share with the world.
"With 100 days to go until the inaugural release, there’s a real sense of excitement and anticipation across the distillery team. Aberargie’s inaugural release is a flavour-first whisky shaped by heritage barley, natural depth and a strong sense of place.
"It embodies years of committed farming, meticulous distillation and thoughtful maturation - all carried out here on family ground. It’s an important milestone for everyone here at Aberargie, and we can’t wait to share this with whisky fans next year.”
Mr Hendriksz added: “Reaching the 100-day countdown feels especially meaningful for our business. After almost a decade of patience, reaching this milestone for Aberargie represents a true homecoming to this family business - a return to the craft that has shaped generations of the Morrison family.
"Every part of this whisky has been grown, distilled and matured on our land, and that connection runs deep. We’re incredibly proud of what the team has created, and we can’t wait to share Aberargie with our family, friends and customers around the world.”
Aberargie Single Malt Scotch Whisky will be available from specialist whisky retailers from March 2026. For exclusive first access, sign up to Aberargie Distillery via www.aberargie.com
