Aberargie Inaugural Release Review: Does the whisky live up to the hype?

At long last: Aberargie unveils its Inaugural Release. After the brand’s launch in Alkmaar last month, whisky-loving Netherlands eagerly awaited the first official bottling from Scotland’s newest distillery. During the launch we already found Aberargie’s building blocks very promising, but how does the Aberargie Inaugural Release actually taste? You’ll find out in this review.

Aberargie’s hallmark is its “grain to glass” approach. On their farm in Perthshire, Scotland, the Morrison family grows their own barley across more than 120 hectares. The distillery sits on the border between the Lowlands and the Highlands, but just on the southern side, so it bears the designation “Lowland distillery.” After harvest, the barley takes a brief detour to be malted, before returning to the estate for the rest of the production process to be completed under one roof.

Aberargie’s Inaugural Release is made from 52% Golden Promise barley and 48% Laureate barley. Golden Promise brings a rounded, buttery richness to the whisky, while Laureate offers a crisp, biscuit-like maltiness. After distillation, the spirit matures in equal parts first-fill ex-bourbon casks and first-fill Spanish oak ex-sherry casks from the Miguel Martin bodega, lending the whisky a layered character of vanilla and honey alongside dark fruits and warming spice.

The Morrison name is well known in the whisky world. From 1963 onward, Stanley P. Morrison owned several distilleries, including Auchentoshan, Glen Garioch, and Bowmore. One by one, the brands were sold, and when Morrison Bowmore sold its remaining shares to Suntory in 1994, distilling came to an end and the Morrisons focused solely on bottling whisky. Brands in the Morrison portfolio include Carn Mòr, Mac-Talla, and Old Perth.

Now, more than thirty years on, it’s time for son Brian and grandson Jamie to breathe new life into the family’s distilling tradition. Morrison Distillers began building the Aberargie Distillery in 2017, but true to their philosophy, the Morrisons are in no rush. Every package proudly states: 'All in good time, in our own way, under one roof. All for the love of whisky.'

With a playful nod, Aberargie makes it clear this is an Inaugural Release. Hanging from the elegantly sculpted bottle is a leather tag stamped with the number 1.

The green packaging, featuring an image of arable fields, and the white-and-green label suit the distillery’s farming roots. They’re filled with details about Aberargie’s vision alongside the practical information drinkers care about. The whisky is uncoloured and non-chill filtered, and it’s bottled at 48.2% ABV.

Even before pouring, the inviting amber hue stands out. It’s the whisky’s natural colour and it instantly beckons you to nose and taste. As you pour, waves of vanilla and baking spice rise to meet you. The aroma of this Inaugural Release is warm and buttery, begging to be explored at leisure.

The first impressions on the nose are: dark fruits, baking spices, and

a luscious apple pie with a hint of lemon zest. The pronounced note of melted butter is striking and a very welcome hallmark of this dram. This is an incredibly rich nose where vanilla and honey are beautifully balanced by spice and dried fruit. So far, Aberargie is off to a flying start, but how about the taste?

The first sip brings a warm, mouth-filling sensation. On the palate we find plenty of spice, verging on peppery, alongside honeyed granola. The whisky seems to hold both juicy plums and blackberries, and a comforting bowl of warm porridge drizzled with honey. A drop of water softens the edges and reveals notes of dark chocolate and caramel fudge.

Those lively spices were already clear on the palate, but after swallowing the spiciness truly takes the lead. The finish is medium-long and robust for a 48.2% ABV. We say goodbye to this whisky with lingering dark fruit, oak, and unsurprisingly: a final flourish of spice.

Aberargie delivers on the high expectations with this first release. A sumptuous, buttery whisky where Golden Promise barley lends a signature to both nose and palate. There’s especially a lot to discover on the nose, but the taste is rich and multifaceted, too. By opting for both first-fill bourbon and sherry cask maturation, you truly get the best of both worlds.

The whole is beautifully balanced, kudos to the master blender! You’d hardly guess you’re drinking a whisky only seven or eight years old. Despite the 48.2% ABV, it’s quite a spicy dram, likely thanks to the character of the Spanish oak.

+ Gorgeous buttery texture

+ A well-balanced whisky with plenty to explore

+ A debut release that already shows a distinctive house style

- The spice is quite dominant in the finish