Arbikie Distillery draws from four centuries of farming experience within the Stirling Family. They are evolving from dairy farm to crops and are now using investment and innovation to become one of the world’s few field-to-bottle distilleries. Perched by the scenic views of Lunan Bay, all ingredients for Arbikie spirits are sown, grown and harvested in the surrounding 2,000 acres that make up the estate. The distilling team, which includes Kirsty Black, Christian Perez and Dave McKay, ensure that the history, tradition and provenance of Scottish distilling is in the DNA of each Arbikie spirit.
Traceability to the specific field of potatoes or grain used to grow raw materials allows the team to understand and control every step of the growing process, all with minimal ‘spirit miles’, based on a single estate. Sustainability is also a huge focus for the distillery, starting at the farm level, looking at new crops, varieties and farming techniques. For example, photovoltaic panels on the roof and distillation bi-products returned to the fields as natural fertilisers or fed to cattle on the neighbouring farm. Starting with the utilisation of ‘wonky veg’, potatoes not deemed perfect enough for sale by large retailers but to the team at Arbikie, beautiful in their imperfections, turned into Tattie Bogle vodka – Scotland’s first potato vodka and the base spirit for Kirsty’s Gin.
Kirsty’s Gin is distilled using the carefully selected local botanicals chosen by Master Distiller, Kirsty Black. The kelp, carline thistle and blaeberry embody the elements of ocean, rock and land that surround the east coast and Angus farmlands. As fourth generation Scottish farmers, the team at the Arbikie Highland Estate perfectly nurture the crops that are used to distil their gin. They grow, distil and bottle on their single estate in a true farm to bottle operation.
Key Botanical(s): Carline Thistle, Blaeberries, Sea Kelp
Gin Style: Distilled
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: A handful of blueberries, a squeeze of lemon juice, tonic and ice.
AK’S Gin is distilled using honey and wheat farmed at Arbikie. The botanicals featured in AK’s Gin were chosen by Alexander Stirling (AK) who the gin was named after and dad to brothers Iain, John and David Stirling. As farmers, they perfectly nurture the ingredients used to distil the gin, giving both an amazing provenance as well as full traceability for their family of ultra-premium spirits. It is the creation of this truly unique spirit that sets Arbikie apart from other gins, as they grow, distil and bottle on their single-estate in a true field to bottle operation.
Key Botanical(s): Honey, Black Pepper, Cardamom
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: A sprig of fresh thyme, orange zest, tonic and ice.
Nàdar Gin is the world’s first carbon neutral, climate negative gin with a carbon footprint of -1.54 kg CO2e per 700ml bottle. Five years of research have went into creating the limited edition, experimental batch gin by head distiller Kirsty Black and her PhD studentship between Abertay University and The James Hutton Institute. The unique gin is made using a spirit distilled from peas, which need no synthetic nitrogen fertiliser to grow, unlike traditional crops used for creating a base alcohol spirit. The benefits of the humble pea are many including improved soil quality resulting in better growth and more efficient crops. Botanicals used in the distillation include lemongrass and citrus leaf, which deliver a fresh, fruity flavour profile and silky finish.
Key Botanical(s): Citrus Leaf, Lemongrass
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: A slice of lime, tonic and ice.
Transformed from the remains of an old cattle barn, Arbikie is the first single-estate distillery to distil all spirits in the same copper pot stills, with the vodka and gin spirit continuing their journey to a 40-plate distillation column. This distillation process means all Arbikie spirits reflect the traditional Scotch whisky method. Each spirit is distilled differently, with the base spirit for Arbikie gins being either double or triple-distilled. Arbikie spirits are bottled, labelled and sealed on the estate. The distillery constructed and opened a premium Distillery Experience in 2022, which allows visitors to witness and experience the sustainable, field-to-bottle approach built around the real craft, real ingredients and real people.
Tour: Yes
Cafe: Yes
Bar: Yes
Shop: Yes
Booking: Learn more about the various Arbikie Distillery Experiences here
You can learn more about Arbikie Highland Estate by clicking the links below.
