The foundation for Distillers Edition 1 (Cask Strength) is not a recipe copied from tradition, but a philosophy of provenance. From field to bottle, every stage happens on our own farm at Arbikie. The rye we grow, the water that surrounds us, and the casks we choose all shape the character of this whisky, giving it a sense of place no bought-in spirit could ever claim.
Reviving the use of rye grain - a tradition largely lost from Scotch whisky production since the late 19th century - is one of the most demanding undertakings for our distilling team. Growing rye successfully on our own estate, then distilling, maturing and bottling it entirely on-site, requires patience across every season, not just every batch. Nothing here is bought in to hit a deadline.
Selecting the casks for this edition is one of the most complex responsibilities on our team, and falls to our Cask Manager, Cristian, who must choose which casks, at five years old, have developed the depth and complexity to stand apart. Four were selected from the warehouse and married together - not a fixed formula applied year after year, but a judgement made cask by cask, tasting by tasting, until the balance was right.
We proudly bottle this edition as a single grain, at cask strength - 59.7% ABV - meaning every part of it, from the rye in the ground to the spirit in your glass, was produced in its entirety at Arbikie Distillery, undiluted and unhurried. Just 966 bottles exist. We will not dilute that story, or the spirit itself, for the sake of scale.
