Highland Rye Whisky, the world’s only rye Scotch whisky, has launched its 2020 release as 1794 celebrating the Arbikie Distillery’s heritage back over two hundred years on the east coast of Scotland. Following the launch of limited editions of Highland Rye in 2018 and 2019, the distillery is now launching its 1794 Highland Rye.
Unlike the previous limited editions, 1794 was not finished in a further cask, but matured in virgin oak casks. As with any whisky, barrel type has a major influence on taste, and the new charred American oak imparts a rich color and flavor to complement the selection of rye, wheat and malted barley grains.
When Arbikie launched their first, limited edition Highland Rye in 2018 it saw the revival of rye whisky in Scotland, the first rye scotch for nearly two hundred years. Other distilleries, such as Bruichladdich and InchDairnie are expected to launch their rye whiskies soon resulting in the emergence a potential new rye whisky category.
“We are delighted with the progress we have made with our Highland Rye Whisky,” said Arbikie Export Director Iain Stirling. “In a few years, from our launch limited-edition to expanding into major whisky markets, such as Canada and the US, to now launching our signature 1794 Edition, it’s a very exciting time at Arbikie as we look for further expansion in the Middle East and Asia.”
The Stirling family has been farming for over 400 years and brothers, Iain, John, Sandy and David carry on the Stirling tradition of being custodians of their lands by reviving their farm’s distant history of field-to-bottle distillation in 1794. Arbikie has capitalized on the rising demand for terroir, provenance-focused luxury spirits by using both the existing crops on their farm and by growing new crops to create unrivaled traceability in their products.
