Arbikie Highland Rye is Scotland's first rye whisky — distilled at the Arbikie farm distillery on the Angus coast, using rye grain grown on the estate itself. The distillery, run by the Stirling family, operates as a genuine field-to-bottle operation, growing its own grain and controlling every stage of production. The rye represents an entirely new category for Scotch whisky.
Scottish rye tastes different from American rye. The cooler climate, different soil conditions, and the grain varieties suited to Scottish agriculture produce a rye with a lighter, more herbal character — less dark bread and black pepper, more green herbs and gentle spice. The four years of Scottish Highland maturation add a subtle maritime quality from the coastal location.
Arbikie Highland Rye is a genuinely pioneering whisky — the first rye produced in Scotland, from a distillery that grows its own grain. The flavour is distinctive and interesting, though the youth means there is room for development as the stocks mature. For anyone interested in the expanding boundaries of Scotch whisky, Arbikie's rye is a fascinating and significant release.
