Arbikie Distillery, located on the east coast of Angus in Scotland, has made a name for itself as one of the country’s most innovative and experimental distilleries. Despite holding back on releasing a whisky for 14 years, Arbikie has carefully crafted its products using a farm-to-bottle process, driven by a deep connection to the land. The distillery is family-owned by the Stirling brothers—John, Iain, and David—who have farmed the 2,100-acre estate since the 1920s. The idea to establish a distillery emerged after a night out in New York, where the brothers envisioned producing Scotland’s finest malt whisky using the barley grown on their farm and their own water source.
The Stirling family believes there was a distillery in the area as early as 1720, with the earliest documented reference appearing in a 1794 map. In 2013, the brothers began the construction of their distillery in a former cattle shed, employing the farm’s mechanics and blacksmiths to assemble the stills made by the German company CARL.
Arbikie initially gained attention for its high-quality potato vodka, made from Maris Piper and King Edward potatoes grown on the estate, which was followed by the release of Arbikie Gin in 2015. In the same year, the team, led by master distiller Kirsty Black, began distilling single malt whisky, with plans to age the spirit for at least 14 years before releasing it as whisky.
Arbikie’s whiskies will be produced in a traditional Highland style with a coastal twist and will be available at 14, 18, and 21 years of age. Each release will highlight the vintage of its distillation and the specific field where the barley was grown. Due to this meticulous production process, Arbikie’s first whisky release is not expected until at least 2029.
The distillery’s future plans include building its own maltings to complete the farm-to-bottle cycle, though for now, it sources malted barley from Glenesk maltings, located just 7.5 miles away in Montrose. Arbikie’s commitment to sustainability and innovation continues to shape its reputation, and its whiskies, when they are eventually released, will reflect the dedication and creativity behind the distillery.
