Region: Highland | |
---|---|
Location | Inverkeilor |
Owner | Stirling family |
Founded | 2013 |
No. of stills |
|
Capacity | 200,000 L |
Website | arbikie |
Arbikie Distilling Limited,[1] trading as Arbikie Distillery, is a scotch whisky, vodka and gin distillery in Inverkeilor, Angus, Scotland.[2][3][4][5]
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.[2][3] There are earlier records of whisky production on the estate that date to 1794.[3] The distillery is owned by Stirling brothers John, Iain and David.[6][7]
Production uses barley and potatoes from the estate farm.[2][3] Overall, it is stated that 90% of all raw materials in the production process come from the farm.[6]
![](Https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Arbikie_Hill_farm_from_Inverkeilor_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1073226.jpg/220px-Arbikie_Hill_farm_from_Inverkeilor_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1073226.jpg)
In August 2021, the distillery began an agreement with the company EcoSpirits for distribution, to reduce the carbon emissions associated with packaging and distribution.[8][9]
In December 2021, the distillery was granted £3 million through the Green Distilleries Competition to create a new hydrogen power plant at the distillery.[10][11]
A new experience visitor centre is due to open in Spring 2022.[6]
Products
The distillery uses pot and column stills from CARL of Germany to produce whisky, gin and vodka.[2]
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.[5]
The distillery also produce a gin called Nàdar (nature) which is branded as climate positive in terms of environmental production.[12] Unusually, the gin uses peas instead of wheat in production.[12][13][14]
In 2014, the distillery produced Scotland's first commercial potato vodka.[2][15][14] The vodka uses a blend of Maris Piper, King Edwards and Cultra potatoes.[16]
In 2020, the distillery released a Highland Rye whiskey.[17][7] On release, the rye whisky was the first commercial rye whisky produced for more than 100 years in Scotland.[18]
References
- ^ "Arbikie Distilling Limited overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". Companies House. 19 November 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Maclean, Charles (2016). Whiskypedia. A Gazetteer of Scotch Whisky. Edinburgh: Birlinn. pp. 65–66. ISBN 978-1-78027-401-0.
- ^ a b c d 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.
- ^ a b Harrison, Joel; Ridley, Neil (2019). The World Atlas of Gin. Octopus. ISBN 978-1784726720.
- ^ a b c "Arbikie Distillery to create 30 new jobs in Angus". The Herald. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b "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.