All about Arbikie

Kirsty’s Gin, made at the Arbikie Distillery in Scotland, is named after its Master Distiller, Kirsty Black. The Stirling family, which owns the Arbikie Highland Estate, enlisted Kirsty’s help in setting up the Distillery, and it is her name on the first Spirit in the Arbikie portfolio.

The Arbikie Distillery takes a field to bottle approach; meaning that everything needed to create their products is sown, grown, harvested and produced on site. Kirsty’s Gin is made with a potato Vodka base, which alone takes two weeks to make.

To that, traditional botanicals (juniper, coriander, angelica, liquorice and orris) are added, as well as some more distinctive flavors including sea kelp, thistle, and blueberries. The Gin is distilled very gently, taking a full day, before the cut is left to rest for a few weeks before bottling.

The result is a creamy Gin (no doubt from the potato base Spirit), with a hint of fruity sweetness, and a spicy, tangy finish from the coriander and berries.

Gin is not the only product produced by Arbikie. Their range also includes Vodka and Whisky.

All about Arbikie distillery

The Arbikie Highland Estate Distillery was set up by three brothers – Iain, John and David Stirling, whose family has been farming the Arbikie land for four generations. The brothers were working in different industries when they decided to head back to the farm and look into opening a distillery.

The distillery was opening with Whisky in mind, but the first bottlings won’t be available until 2029. With a huge surge in popularity for Scottish Gin, the brothers decided to keep things ticking over with Gin and Vodka. The current range includes three Gins and four Vodkas.

Every bottle is made with produce grown at the farm; the potatoes and wheat make base Spirits, and botanicals are all grown within an arm's length of the distillery. Overseen by Master Distiller Kirsty Black, production reflects that of the traditional Scotch Whisky production method, with all Spirits being distilled in the same copper pot stills. 

Distillery info

  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Established: 2015
  • Address: Inverkeilor, Arbroath DD11 4UZ, United Kingdom
  • Phone: 01241 830770
  • Website: https://www.arbikie.com/