Morris set to release limited-edition flagship whisky

Sometimes you just have to be quiet. 

Like when you taste an outstanding drink that has not been released yet. 

And the distillery had imposed an embargo and you are sworn to silence, much as you'd like to spread the word. 

Morris Australian Single Malt Whisky is releasing its new flagship expression: the Single Barrel Sherry Cask, a whisky drawn from a single ex-sherry cask from Morris of Rutherglen and hand-selected by head distiller Darren Peck and chief winemaker Madden Morris.

The limited-release aims to embody more than 165 years of winemaking heritage, transformed into a single barrel whisky of complexity and character. There will be only 270 bottles available (RRP $298).

The sneak peek I enjoyed recently was full of flavour and super smooth. 

Peck (below) said the release represents a unique whisky experience.



"We selected this specific ex-sherry cask for our Single Barrel release because I wanted to share a whisky unlike anything we've released before," he said. 

"At Morris, we're renowned for our fortified wines, and exploring the potential of this sherry cask has been a project I've loved to nurture and develop over six years of maturation here in Rutherglen. 

"The climate has delivered the perfect maturation conditions, allowing the whisky to develop a level of maturity far beyond its age. The result is an exceptional single barrel whisky with incredible complexity from oak extraction as a result of the unique climate."

Describe by Peck as "bold yet beautifully balanced" the whisky was bottled at a cask strength of 51.8% ABV.

Each bottle is individually numbered and allocated at random.

You can register for exclusive early access from today at morriswhisky.com.

General sales commence on September 15 online and at the Morris cellar door.

Two of Australia's storied family wineries celebrate together

Two of Australia's leading winemaking families got together this month to celebrate a decade of working together.

The Morris family from Rutherglen, in north-east Victoria, has been making bold reds and fortified wines since 1859. By 1885, Morris was reported to be the biggest wine producer in the southern hemisphere. 

Current winemaker Madden Morris is the sixth generation to hold the reins after taking over from his father David in the company's 165th year. He describes the family wines as "legacy in a glass". 

Casella Family Brands, from Yenda in the NSW Riverina, is Australia's largest family-owned beverage company. 

Founded in 1969, although the family sold grapes for decades before that, Casella is best known for selling over 10 million cases of [yellow tail] around the world each year and also owns labels including Peter Lehmann and Baileys of Glenrowan.

A decade ago, French conglomerate Pernod Richard Winemaker, the then owners of the Morris business, were keen to sell, and the Morris family was anxious to buy the business back - but lacked the cash.

Up stepped Casella boss John Casella, a long-time family friend, to acquire the rights.

In July 2016, Morris of Rutherglen was back in Australian hands, and the family regained control.

David Morris and John Casella 

David Morris told the 10th anniversary celebration how the Casellas had come to his family's aid.

“It was a very devastating decision that they [Pernod Ricard] made," he said. "It was the final nail that they could put into our coffin. We were making good sales, we were 70% table and sparkling wine and only 30% fortified wine at that point. We were a very small winery in their portfolio.

“When they made the decision, it came about very quickly, and they gave us a couple of weeks to find a buyer. Then we managed to get the deposit in the day before [the deadline]. It is now amazing to be back in family stewardship and have some longevity back in the brand.

“We went from devastating news to fantastic within about a month.”

Morris said Casella was one of the first friends he called, with the result that the historic winery returned to family stewardship and secure its long-term future as a partnership with the Cassela family.

“Morris is an Australian icon and we couldn’t allow it to be lost," John Casella told the event. "And to see where we are today, with the barrels in the cellar, this beautiful cellar door, none of this would have existed."

Over the past decade, Casella Family Brands has invested in the Morris of Rutherglen business, building on its cellar door offering and resuming long-lost distilling operations to produce world-class whiskies made by Scottish-born head distiller Darren Peck.

Morris is now a triple-threat destination offering wines, fortifieds and spirits. 

Its muscats and topaques are regarded among the best in the world and the Morrises have long championed the big red grape variety durif (aka petite sirah), which Madden Morris describes as "shiraz on steroids".

Guests at the event also enjoyed a tour of the Morris distillery - and the still built in 1933 - as well as a spectacular display of barrel charring. 

Visitors should not miss the aromatic - and atmospheric - old cellars.

 
# The writer was a guest of Morris of Rutherglen and Casella Family Wines.