Morris

On the border of Victoria and New South Wales, Morris is a highly regarded Oz wine producer operating for over 150 years, best known for it's fortified wines.

So it was with some surprise that they launched a Single Malt whisky in June 2021 - with the help of John McDougall, a Master Distiller formerly of Balvenie, Laphroaig and Springbank) and  the late legendary distillery consultant Dr Jim Swan.

The spirit is produced in the original still that produced the base spirit for the fortified wines, that was installed in 1941. It was carefully restored and named 'Aurora' in honour of the story of Sleeping Beauty - and which given that's also my eldest daughter's middle name meant I HAD to bring it into the shop!

Distillation commenced in 2016, using 100% Australian barley. The spirit is then matured in a combination of American and French oak barrels that previously held either Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon that were sourced from a variety of Australian wineries - the Signature release is then finished in barrels that have held Morris' own fortified wines, so you could generalise this as a 'Port finish'.

On the nose there is a definite dessert wine feel, which absolultely carries onto the palate. It's a sweeter Single Malt, maybe too sweet for some, but there a great complexity of honey and orange blossom notes before a youthful prickle comes through at the finish - which is needed because it would potentially otherwise be lacking due to those lighter sweet notes.

It's a really intriguing whisky, with lots going on in every sip. I really look forward to see how this develops over the years as the team have already got a bonzer whisky to start with!