Scotland’s first potato vodka has gained global recognition by winning ‘Best Vodka’ at the annual Cocktails Spirits event in Paris, beating a host of global entrants including France’s own Grey Goose.
Arbikie is the first super-premium spirit produced by the Arbikie Distillery, which grows all its own ingredients then ferments, distils, bottles, labels and matures on their single-estate farm on the east coast of Scotland.
Unlike the majority of vodka, which is made with wheat, the Arbikie brand is made from potatoes, giving it a distinctive flavour. It also means that the vodka is gluten free. The distillery uses copper pot stills to bring the art of Scotch whisky distilling to the production of all its spirits, which it says gives Arbikie Vodka a comparable quality and depth to Scotch.
“As a family business, it is wonderful to have the freedom to be innovative. We believe that drinking should be no different from the way we eat with goodness from the ground up, from the farm to bottle,” said Iain Stirling, Arbikie Commercial Director. “We have embraced the French concept of ‘terroir’, which describes how the natural elements of a place determine the characteristics of wine, to create exceptional spirits.”
He concluded: “We’re delighted that the distinguished Cocktails Spirits Judging Panel agree.”
The distillery plans to launch Arbikie Gin in the next few weeks and also intends to move into the overseas market.
