Arbikie distillery
Arbikie distillery is a scotch whisky, vodka and gin distillery in Inverkeilor, Angus, Scotland.[1][2][3][4]
Region: Highland | |
---|---|
Location | Inverkeilor |
Owner | Stirling family |
Founded | 2013 |
No. of stills | 1 wash stills 1 spirit stills |
Capacity | 200,000 L |
History
The distillery was built in 2013 on the Arbikie Highland Estate, a 2,000 acre farm owned by the Stirling family for four generations.[1][2] There are earlier records of whisky production on the estate that date to 1794.[2] The distillery is owned by Stirling brothers John, Iain and David.[5][6]
Production uses barley and potatoes from the estate farm.[1][2] Overall, it is stated that 90% of all raw materials in the production process come from the farm.[5]
In August 2021, the distillery began an agreement with the company EcoSpirits for distribution, to reduce the carbon emissions associated with packaging and distribution.[7][8]
In December 2021, the distillery was granted £3 million through the Green Distilleries Competition to create a new hydrogen power plant at the distillery.[9][10]
A new experience visitor centre is due to open in Spring 2022.[5]
Products
The distillery uses pot and column stills from CARL of Germany to produce whisky, gin and vodka.[1]
The core gin expression is named 'Kirsty's Gin' after master distiller Kirsty Black and includes botanicals such as seaweed, carline thistle and Scottish blaeberry.[4]
The distillery also produce a gin called Nàdar (nature) which is branded as climate positive in terms of environmental production.[11] Unusually, the gin uses peas instead of wheat in production.[11][12][13]
In 2014, the distillery produced Scotland's first commercial potato vodka.[1][14][13] The vodka uses a blend of Maris Piper, King Edwards and Cultra potatoes.[15]
In 2020, the distillery released a Highland Rye whiskey.[16][6] On release, the rye whisky was the first commercial rye whisky produced for more than 100 years in Scotland.[17]
References
- Maclean, Charles (2016). Whiskypedia. A Gazetteer of Scotch Whisky. Edinburgh: Birlinn. pp. 65–66. ISBN 978-1-78027-401-0.
- Jackson, Michael (2015). Malt Whisky Companion. Scotland: Dorling Kindersley. p. 108. ISBN 9780241429112.
- Wishart, David (2020). Whisky Classified. Choosing Single Malts by Flavour. Pavilion Books. ISBN 978-1911595731.
- Harrison, Joel; Ridley, Neil (2019). The World Atlas of Gin. Octopus. ISBN 978-1784726720.
- "Arbikie Distillery to create 30 new jobs in Angus". The Herald. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- "Arbikie: a brand history". The Spirits Business. 22 July 2020. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- "Environmentally-friendly distribution deal for Angus distillery". The Courier. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- "Arbikie Distillery partners with ecoSPIRITS". The Drinks Report. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- "Arbikie hydrogen plan gets £3 million of funding". Scottish Farmer. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- "Funding helps UK distilleries fuel a greener future". UK Gov. Archived from the original on 7 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- "Three ways this gin made from peas is good for the climate". CNN. 30 September 2021. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- "Arbikie launches 'climate positive' pea-based vodka Nadar". Business Insider. 27 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- "Discovering the stories behind Scotland's experimental spirits, from seaweed rum to pea vodka". National Geographic. 8 October 2021. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- "Arbikie distillery signs deal to sell first potato vodka in Toronto". Business Insider. 24 July 2020. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- "Angus farm distillery launches home-grown potato vodka". BBC News. 12 November 2014. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- "Scottish distillery Arbikie introduces 1794 Highland Rye to range of award-winning spirits". The Scotsman. 4 December 2020. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- "Scotland's first rye whisky in 100 years produced at Arbroath distillery". BBC News. 20 December 2018. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2022.