Chapter 23
My first Morrison Whisky
Leo’s Chapters 24, 25 and 26 have given us a deep dive in the amazing world of Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers.
With a longstanding heritage in the whisky domain spanning numerous generations, the Morrison lineage has left an indelible mark. From their acquisition of Islay’s Bowmore distillery in 1963, to the recent establishment of the Aberargie Single Malt Scotch Whisky distillery in 2017, situated on the family’s expansive 300-acre Aberargie farm near Perth, their journey is rich with tradition and innovation.
This is our take on five dram from them, across their three main brands: Old Perth, Mac-Talla and Carn Mor.
Old Perth Original - 46%
A blended malt bottled at 46% ABV, aged in sherry casks, non-chill-filtered, and natural color. Price range in the UK from £31-£39. Undisclosed malt components.
On the Nose: barley sugars, malt notes of digestive biscuits. Margherita pizza. Candy sugar
On the Palate: potent arrival. Gingery. Spicy development. It needs some water for my palate.
Finish: medium length. A hint of smoke in the back. Subtle but decently refined.
Overall: it needs a good swim. Amable. At £30 it’s good value for money… hard to disagree.
Càrn Mòr Royal Brackla 2009 13yo - 47.5%
13 years maturation in American oak – distilled in 2009 and bottled at 47.5% with a natural presentation.
On the Nose: kind of pecorino cheese with its nutty acidic umami richness. sulfury, mushroom, crayon. A bit of citrus far away…. Some creme brulee with a dash of water and time
On the Palate: pretty gentle arrival, it develops pretty well engaging all the tongue in a fairly balanced way.
Finish: quite long and monotone, if this is your tone, you’re in luck. I liked the oaky character.
Overall: it needs quite some water for my palate, at £74 probably not my favourite choice but it could be yours.
Càrn Mòr Mannochmore 2010 12yo - 47.5%
Spirit from Mannochmore in the heart of Speyside. Mainly bourbon maturation and same natural presentation at 47.5% abv. Priced around £55 in the UK.
On the Nose: caramel, Werther’s original, ripe apple and vanilla, coconut…time and water let those cheesy notes out again of pecorino and ricotta.
On the Palate: fresh coconut water, white peach, green and pink lady apples. Lovely and refreshing.
Finish: liquorice, loads of it. Nice war between senses denoting a deep complexity.
Overall: the best one so far. Really enjoyed the complexity and sensorial dichotomies.
Old Perth Cask Strength - 58.6%
Cask strength version of the sherried Old Perth. Offered at a generous 58.6% abv.
On the Nose: ripen mulberries, red and blue berries. A feast of berries basically. Side notes of armagnac.
On the Palate: rich, thick and oily. This is what makes us smile and you know it! Such a great mouthful.
Finish: the richness carries on to compliment a consistently full bodied experience.
Overall: absolutely the best one so far and it gets the badge. It needs just a little water. £42-48 great value for money.
Mac-Tall Mara - 58.2%
Cask strength expression from Mac-Talla. “Mara” means the sea in Gaelic and I can say, there are sea notes in here. Pretty well chosen name. Of course natural presentation.
On the Nose: aggressive, probably Bowmore. Brine. A bit new-makey and young. Freshly cut grass.
On the Palate: waxy, candle wax, green astringent apple.
Finish: heavily peated, not just earth and mud but smoke.
Overall: fierce. Being a cask strength price it’s quite reasonable and good value for money.
Drams
and more...
Today's drams
- Old Perth Original – 46%
- Càrn Mòr Royal Brackla 2009 13yo – 47.5%
- Càrn Mòr Mannochmore 2010 12yo – 47.5%
- Old Perth Cask Strength – 58.6%
- Mac-Tall Mara – 58.2%
Morrison Distillers
Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers is today a family business under the ownership of father-and-son team Brian and Jamie Morrison since 2020, and formerly known as Morrison and Mackay.
The Morrison family has been involved in the whisky industry for many generations. They owned Islay’s Bowmore distillery since 1963, before being sold to Suntory (Japanese drinks producer) .
Since 2017 they also run the new Aberargie Single Malt Scotch Whisky distillery (Lowlands), based in the family’s 300 acre farm in Aberargie, just outside Perth. Their first release will soon happen and will mark the return to distilling for the family, after 25 years, since the Bowmore experience.