As the market for imported whiskies heats up, Australia’s Morris Whisky, in partnership with distiller and importer Hotaling & Co., announced its official launch in the U.S.

This unique style of whisky that captures the provenance, climate and terroir of Australia. Due to their distinctive flavor profiles, Australian-made whiskies have seen significant popularity and growth in recent years. Only the third Australian Whisky available in the U.S. to date, Morris marks its debut with the rollout of two expressions: Australian Single Malt Signature Whisky and Australian Single Malt Muscat Barrel Whisky.

Led by Head Distiller Darren Peck, who’s worked under the tutelage of the renowned whisky maker John McDougall (Springbank, Laphroig, Balvenie, among others), Morris combines tradition with modern techniques to craft a distinct style of Australian single malt whisky.

Produced in Victoria, Morris Whisky is crafted using 100% locally sourced ingredients and is finished in award-winning fortified wine barrels. With hot days and cool nights, Australia’s Mediterranean climate allows the liquid to mature faster than whiskies aged in cooler climates, allowing for richer and more robust flavors to develop in a shorter time.

Aged for a minimum of three years in ex-wine barrels with an ABV of 44%, the Signature expression delivers a rich finish that lingers on the palate.

Designed as a whisky best enjoyed neat, the premium Australian Single Malt Muscat Barrel Whisky is also made with Australian malted barley and aged for three years in American and French oak barrels with an ABV of 48.

Both Australian Single Malt Signature Whisky and Australian Single Malt Muscat Barrel Whisky were awarded gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards and World Whisky Masters the past two years running, as well as receiving Platinum and Double Gold distinctions respectively at the recent SIP awards.

Production of these two whiskies commenced in 2016 using the original copper pot and column still installed at the Morris winery in 1941, when it was used for producing base spirits for Morris fortified wines. Maturation has taken place on-site in the purpose-built barrel house using ex-wine barrels that have been hand-crafted at Morris’ private cooperage to a specific method.

The liquid was aged in a combination of American and French oak, ex-Shiraz and Cabernet red wine barrels, that were carefully selected from family-owned wineries in the Barossa and Coonawarra regions.

Imported by Hotaling & Co., Morris Australian Single Malt Whisky is available at select retailers in California, Texas, Illinois, New York, Massachusetts, Georgia, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Maryland with eventual availability in Arizona, Nevada, and Missouri in the coming months. 

The Australian Single Malt Signature Whisky has a suggested retail price of $59.99 for a 750 ml and the Australian Single Malt Muscat Barrel Whisky has a suggested retail price of $89.99 for a 750 ml.

For more information on both whiskies, please visit www.morriswhisky.com.