SCOTLAND
This summer, Arbikie also opened a state-of-the-
art visitor centre — a striking black-wood-and-glass structure overlooking the glorious, wide-angled sweep of Lunan Bay. Tours start in the estate’s fi elds. “It’s important for visitors to see the start of the process,” says co-founder Iain Stirling, as we wander over to the rows of juniper bushes. “It’s who we are — we’re farmers.” Iain, one of six siblings, set up the distillery with two
of his brothers, David and John, and is the one who steers Arbikie’s day-to-day aff airs. The team source botanicals from the sea, beach and land; harvest barley, wheat and rye; and grow ingredients such as lemongrass, coriander and chillies in the polytunnels. But the story began with potatoes. “I had a light bulb moment,” explains Iain. “I thought, we’re potato farmers, so we should make potato vodka.” Cue Tattie Bogle vodka, Scotland’s fi rst potato vodka. It’s named after the scarecrows that once protected the crop and is made with King Edward, Maris Piper and Cultra varieties. At Airbikie, it’s all about ‘fi eld to bottle’ — the team
can pinpoint the exact fi eld the raw ingredients for each spirit run come from, and the relevant fi eld is then name-checked on the bottles. “It’s all about terroir, just like wine, and production will vary from year to year,” explains Iain. In addition to potato vodka, Arbikie has notched up
a number of fi rsts: not only has it produced the fi rst Scottish rye whisky, it’s also created the fi rst pea-based vodka and gin, under the ‘climate-positive’ Nàdar brand. The company’s master distiller, Kirsty Black, developed the spirits in collaboration with the James Hutton Institute and Abertay University, using Daytona peas. “Peas can use the nitrogen in the air, meaning we don’t need nitrogen fertiliser,” she explains. Peas can also improve the soil by transferring nitrogen to the earth, and any leftover peas are used to feed the farm’s livestock. It’s a visionary innovation — the fi rst pod-to-pour spirit.“We’re making it up as we go along,” Iain smiles.
Shrubs and spice rum Continuing south, I cross the Tay Bridge to reach the grandly named and quaintly picturesque Kingdom of Fife, home to rolling hills and a coastline strung with pretty fi shing villages. This is an area that punches above its weight in terms of culinary credentials, with two Michelin-starred restaurants (The Cellar and The Peat Inn) and a bountiful natural larder.
Peter Dignan of Lost Loch Spirits, which produces gin, rum, absinthe and Haroosh
Distillery tours
OGILVY DISTILLERY, ANGUS The Tattie Box Tours at Ogilvy Farm in Angus takes place in a trailer towed by a tractor. Learn how this family of farmers became a single-estate potato vodka producer. The one-and- half-hour tour is a ground-to- glass experience, winding up with a tutored tasting. £15.
ogilvyspirits.com
DARNLEY’S GIN COTTAGE, FIFE Set in a picture-postcard cottage, Darnley’s offers distillery talks, tours and tastings. At Darnley’s Gin School, visitors can learn to distil, bottle and label their own spirits, made from botanicals grown in the garden. Discover Darnley’s Tour, £12; Darnley’s Gin School, £125.
darnleysgin.com
SECRET GARDEN DISTILLERY, EDINBURGH In 2012, Herbologist Hamish Martin and his wife Liberty created their Secret Herb Garden on a 7.5- acre plot of land on Edinburgh’s outskirts. The Gin Garden and Distillery Tour showcases their range of hand-harvested botanicals and ends with a tasting. £15.
secretgardendistillery.co.uk
SUMMERHALL DISTILLERY, EDINBURGH Based in the disused dog kennels of Edinburgh’s former veterinary school, this distillery is the home of Pickering’s Gin. The tour kicks off with a G&T before taking visitors through the distilling process and ending with a tutored tasting of three gins. £15.
pickeringsgin.com
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