.arbikie - kirsty's gin - batch ag0001

At the Arbikie Highland single estate distillery, they produce a range of quality products. Their gin is no exception in this case. Created with the standard ingredients such as juniper berries, coriander seeds and angelica, liquorice and orrice roots, they also added Lunan Bay sugar kelp, blaeberries and Carline thistle root as the gin’s key components.

43% abv, €40
gin, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: sweet, fragrant, floral, lavender, sweet berries, citrus, orange peel

Palate: sweet, floral, lavender, berries, blackberries, raspberries, liquorice, slightly dry, a hint of juniper, 

Finish: floral, sweet, lavender, juniper, ripe blueberries,
Mark: ++++/+

Conclusion: Very nice. Neat, and with a good tonic, this keeps together quite well. I am curious where I get the citrus from, since that is nowhere to be found in the recipe.

More info: this must be one of the few, if not the only gin created with a potato vodka as the base spirit. 

.arbikie - new make single malt

During our visit to the Arbikie single estate distillery, we cheekily asked and received a small sample of their new make single malt spirit, to take with us and make a proper note.

74.6% abv, €not for sale
single malt, new make spirit, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: fruity, malty, sweet, vanilla, chocolate chip cookie dough

Palate: hot (obviously), malty, sweet, creamy vanilla, milk chocolate

Finish: long, warm, creamy, malty, milk chocolate
Mark: +++++

Conclusion: I am amazed as to how much flavours the spirit already has from itself. Diluted, there is almost a note as if I get an oaky vanilla from wood maturation, which is definitely not the case. A creamy, sweet spirit which, with proper maturation, will grow into a fine whisky, I am sure.