MORRIS of Rutherglen, located in the North-East Victorian town from which it takes its name, was established in 1859 to produce fortified wine and went on to become one of the most acclaimed in the world. As a result, MORRIS the whisky distillery now has access to a unique library of fortified barrels, some over 100 years old, which it has already used to strike liquid gold in June 2021 with the launch of its core offerings – the Australian Single Malt Whisky Signature and the Australian Single Malt Whisky Muscat Barrel. Now it’s back to do it again with an exciting new drop made using 100 per cent Australian ingredients: the Australian Single Malt Whisky Sherry Barrel.
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Morris Australian Single Malt Whisky Sherry Barrel
The MORRIS Sherry Barrel is a mature, single malt whisky that serves up a flavour-filled balance of influences from oak, malt and sherry barrels. Bottled at 46 per cent ABV, this drop is matured in a combination of French and American oak casks that once housed a family-produced red wine in Barossa and Coonawarra before being finished in barrels that once held the MORRIS of Rutherglen 10 Year-Aged Amber Apera (Sherry). With this Aged Amber Apera having been on the dryer side of things, it complements the whisky beautifully, resulting in a very approachable and utterly irresistible Australian single malt.
Morris Australian Single Malt Whisky Signature
In comparison, MORRIS’ award-winning 40 per cent ABV Signature expression offers a plethora of orchard fruit profiles, including macerated black cherry and biscuit notes, which are balanced by a marmalade zest with lingering cocoa and dark-berry flavours. This was achieved thanks to the use of prize-winning, ex-fortified barrels that impart an unrivalled finish of dried fruit intensity, as well as delivering a seamless and rich depth of character that lingers long on the palate.
This particular drop was awarded gold at the World Whisky Masters (Spirits Business Mag) 2022, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2022, the London Spirits Competition 2022, and the Bartenders Brand Awards 2022 to name a few. Not to mention the Signature is very approachable.
Morris Australian Single Malt Whisky Muscat Barrel
Finally, MORRIS’ similarly award-winning 46 per cent ABV Muscat Barrel expression serves up a creamy mouthfeel that’s backed by rich dark fruits and sweet malt notes, ultimately giving way to sweet vanilla, cocoa, and cinnamon spice. Like all MORRIS whiskies, primary maturation has been completed in a combination of French and American oak ex-wine casks. This process is followed by an extended maturation in MORRIS’ multi-award-winning, ex-fortified Muscat barrels, providing an elevated whisky by comparison to Signature expression.
The Muscat Barrel received gold at the Global Luxury Masters (Spirits Business Mag) 2022, the Beverage Testing Institute 2022, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2022 and more. MORRIS also offers a Smoked Muscat Barrel expression with additional heavily-charred oak that creates a whisky with unrivalled complexity and depth of character.
