Introducing Caleb and his tasting of 2 Limited Edition Morrison bottlings

It is with immense pleasure that we welcome a new face, and a fantastic palate, to the Select Scotch Whisky family! We know it's been a little while since our last official tasting note, and we truly appreciate your patience. Today, we're thrilled to introduce you to the newest custodian of our tasting notes: Caleb Norris.

What a fantastic welcome! My name is Caleb, and I'm genuinely thrilled to be taking over the reins here. For me, whisky isn't just a job; it’s a passion I've cultivated for almost 25 years. I’ve spent over a decade involved with a dedicated whisky tasting club and even had the pleasure of working around an Australian distillery for five years. I hope all that experience, my passion for Scotch Whisky and other fine spirits, translates into notes that are both honest and irresistible. To get started in this space, I figured we should go big: I’ve selected a double-header of drams, beginning with a classic, old style sherry bomb that's ready to knock your socks off.

Old Perth Solera Limited Edition: A Deep Dive into Sherry Cask Tradition

This Old Perth Solera LIMITED EDITION Blended Malt Scotch Whisky from Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers showcases a unique approach to sherry cask maturation. Bottled at a powerful cask strength of 57.6% ABV and, thankfully, presented non-chill filtered and natural colour, this is a sherry bomb built for flavour enthusiasts. Only 840 bottles were released globally, with just 60 making their way to Australia, a genuine privilege to taste.

The Solera System Explained

The creation of this liquid is inspired by the complex, traditional Spanish sherry bodegas. The Old Perth Solera system incorporates the use of five extremely old 70-year-old traditional sherry butts from Jerez. This fractional blending method, known as a Solera, involves marrying and cycling different liquids from these ancient casks, ensuring the spirit is constantly exposed to decades of concentrated sherry influence. The LIMITED EDITION release is a marriage of liquids drawn from each of these five historic butts, capturing the essence of their long-standing richness and preserving forgotten flavours.

My Tasting Notes

The nose on this one is simply glorious! An older style of sherry note is obvious from initial nosing, there is sweetness to it, but I'd say this one is more in the refined, dry sherry style. Prunes and a hint of old oiled leather, like maybe a vintage saddle, sit beautifully alongside a noticeable waxiness. The alcohol is wonderfully integrated, less evident on the nose than its high 57.6% ABV suggests it might be. I could nose it for hours... but time to taste.

The initial palate delivers a full and creamy mouthfeel, with the flavours immediately coating your mouth completely. The waxiness and that beautiful leather note from the nose are even more evident here. The fruit component is amazing, hitting traditional light fruit cake vibes, followed by deep prunes. Through the mid-palate, the higher ABV is now more obvious, providing a satisfying warmth that is far from offensive, nothing a drop of water couldn't open up if that's your thing.

The finish is the final act of this epic dram. Well... I'm not sure it ever ends, but I don't want it to, so I'm happy at least! The waxiness is still there, fighting its way through a very light spicy prickle, probably due to the cask strength ABV. It is still only light and by no means detracts from how glorious this long, rich, and lingering dram truly is.

This is certainly my style of malt. The quality of the aged Solera casks shines through in every layer, delivering a rich, old-school sherry profile that is increasingly hard to find. It is no surprise this dram scored a solid 94/100 for me.

With only 840 bottles globally, this is a special occasion dram for those lucky enough to secure one. If you hurry, there might be a few left available.

Mac-Talla Amarone Limited Edition: Islay Smoke Meets Italian Depth

Following on from the old-school sherry power of the Old Perth Solera, I thought I'd treat you to something a little different, proving that Islay peat can play wonderfully with the most unexpected wine finishes.

This Mac-Talla Amarone Limited Edition Islay Single Malt is a cask-strength monster at 54.3% ABV, bottled non-chill filtered and natural colour by Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers. This particular expression was released as a 'Friends of the Feis' bottling for the 2025 Fèis Ìle (Islay's annual festival of whisky and music). Only 928 bottles were released globally, with just 30 coming to Australia, making this a seriously scarce dram.

The Marriage of Islay and Valpolicella

The Mac-Talla range, whose name means 'echo' in Scottish Gaelic, is dedicated to showcasing the versatility of Islay's famous smoky spirit through different cask types. The Amarone Limited Edition achieves this by marrying Islay Single Malt that has been finished in first-fill Amarone della Valpolicella casks. Amarone wine, from Italy's Valpolicella region, is renowned for its intense, dark fruit flavours, which are concentrated by air-drying the grapes before fermentation. The resulting casks impart a rich, velvety depth and notes of dark chocolate that beautifully complement the maritime peat of the Islay spirit.

My Tasting Notes

Immediately I am met with a moderate amount of campfire-like peat smoke on the nose, which quickly evolves into a more savoury, smoked meat fragrance. Cutting through the smoke is a lovely fruitiness, like stewed peaches and nectarines. The cask-strength ABV provides a pleasant, inviting warmth that opens the aromas without being aggressive. It's a wonderfully balanced nose that promises complexity.

The palate is a full experience. A hint of inviting sweetness greets you at the start of the tongue, followed by fresh white peaches mixed with a dark chocolatey characteristic, which is just delightful. The mouthfeel is wonderfully full, oily, and thick. The peat comes in waves, gentle but ever-present, reminding me of sitting by an open fire. It’s a wonderful smokiness that enhances the other flavours and marries with them beautifully, never dominating the fruit and cocoa notes.

The finish is a warming sensation that lingers long enough to make you want more but gives you plenty of time to savour each sip. The cocoa is more evident here, as is the peat smoke, continuing that gentle, comforting smokiness. The ABV is where the warmth on the finish comes from, creating a lovely, lasting impression.

The partnership of robust Islay peat and rich Amarone wood is inspired, delivering a complex, rewarding dram that is distinct from its sherry-cask peers. This is a must-try for any peat lover who appreciates a great wine finish, reflected by my score of 91/100.

As with the Old Perth, this is a highly limited release, so if you hurry, there might be one or two left available!

In Conclusion

These two whiskies from Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers - the rich, traditional Old Perth Solera and the smoky, innovative Mac-Talla Amarone - showcase the incredible variety and quality available in Scotch Whisky today. I am thrilled to share my passion with you, and I hope these notes encourage you to explore these fantastic drams, should you be lucky enough to find them.