Aberargie Distillery Completes Final Harvest Ahead of Inaugural Whisky Release

Aberargie Distillery in Perth, Scotland, recently completed its final barley harvest, marking the countdown to the release of its first single malt whisky in early 2026. The harvest featured the traditional barley variety Golden Promise, a low-yield crop now used by only a handful of Scottish distilleries.

Owned by the Morrison family, who have five generations of history in the Scotch whisky industry, Aberargie represents their return to whisky distillation after selling Bowmore Distillery to Suntory in 1994. Longtime Bowmore enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the family's comeback.

Golden Promise was a mainstream barley variety in the 1960s, favored by distilleries like The Macallan for its rich flavor. While most producers have switched to higher-yield modern varieties, Aberargie continues to grow this traditional barley alongside the modern Laureate variety.

Graeme Mackeddie, Aberargie's distillation lead, emphasized the significance of this harvest as the last before bottling their inaugural single malt. He noted that growing their own barley ensures full control over flavor and consistency, with Golden Promise contributing depth and richness.

Aberargie stands out for its end-to-end control of production. All barley is grown on Morrison family land seven miles south of Perth and transported directly to the distillery. The entire process—distillation, aging, and bottling—is done on-site, making Aberargie one of the few Scottish distilleries using 100% estate-grown barley.

The distillery began production in 2017, aging all whisky in first-fill oak casks for maximum flavor extraction. As a fully independent family-owned business, Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers contrasts with the corporate ownership common in the industry, allowing long-term planning and patient aging strategies.

The 2026 release will showcase a single malt shaped entirely by its origins. From traditional barley to family ownership, Aberargie represents a deliberate return to traditional whisky-making values. This final harvest marks the transition from agricultural project to commercial whisky brand.

2025-08-07

Source - https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-news/aberargie-distillery-completes-final-harvest-before-inaugural-release/