Arbikie Distillery Tweet Tasting 19th June 2024

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Written by: Mark
Category: Tweet Tasting
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On Wednesday the 19th June, I was fortunate to try Arbikie Whisky for the first time as took part in the #TweetTasting with @Arbikie hosted by Steve Rush @TheWhiskyWire

The line up for the the tasting was as follows:

  1. Arbikie 1794 Highland Rye Single Grain Scotch Whisky - Link to Arbikie Shop
    ABV: 48%
    Casks: New charred American oak casks
    Mash Bill: Winter Rye 60%, Spring malted barley 25% and Winter wheat 15%
    RRP: £95.00
  2. Arbikie Highland Rye Single Grain Scotch Whisky Artists Edition - Link to Arbikie Shop
    ABV: 46%
    RRP: £250
  3. Arbikie Highland Rye Distillery Exclusive Bottle Your Own
    ABV: 58%
    Distilled: 2019
    Casks: New American oak casks
    RRP: £100.00

Delivery was received the previous day, however the second dram labeled #2 was damaged resulting all of the delicious liquid being lost. However I still have the first and last drams to look forward too.

Here are my thoughts and tweets from the evening.


Overall thoughts are this is an excellent rye whisky, due to the cooler and therefore slower maturation which occurs in Scotland, compared to the US, this Scotch Rye appears to offer a more diverse flavour range than I have experienced from it's peers across the Atlantic, quite possibly also due to the mash bill which includes 40% barley, which also helps temper the spice of the rye.


This Distillery Exclusive certainly benefits from being cask strength, the nose did not give away its strength, it only being revealed on the palate. It's a rich and rewarding dram with complexity of flavour and sensation, most notably the spice, which, with addition of water is further enhanced.

While it was disappointing not to get to try the second whisky, the Abilkie Highland Rye Artists Edition, being the most expensive, I am very grateful for the chance to have tried at least the core range 1794 Rye, getting to try the Distillery Exclusive, which can only be purchased from the distillery was a bonus that I am grateful for trying.

Before I started enjoying Scotch Whisky, I primarily drank American Bourbons then later American Rye Whiskey.
Having tried many of the core range and those readily available to the UK Market. Rye Whiskeys, because of what Rye presents, tends to be a very spicy spirit, which is very much the case with what Arbikie offers.

Beyond American Rye Whiskey, the only other Rye Whisky I have tried is the Stauning Rye from the Danish producer. Bottled at 48% ABV and available for around £50, once again and unsurprisingly it is spicy.

As a comparison, Rye Whisky is a bit more spicy than say a Talisker 10 Year Old, if you enjoy spice specifically Liquorice, Rye Bread, Black Pepper and Chilli, then these Rye Whiskies from Arbikie are for you. Likewise if you have trie American Rye Whiskey or even other international offerings, the Whisky crafted by Arbikie is certainly worth trying.

I would be remiss to not acknowledge the price of the Arbikie offerings starting at £95 for the core 1794 Single Grain whisky, at twice the price of the Stauning Rye it is expensive, however, the Arbikie offers a different take on a Rye Whisky, providing some tasting notes which you certainly won't be finding in American Whiskey.

Rye Whisky from Scotland is still very much a rarity, from memory, the only other distilleries using rye to any extent are Bruichladdich and The Borders Distillery. South of the border however, English Whisky has embraced Rye with East London Liquor, Oxford Artisan, Adnams and The English Distillery via their 'The Norfolk' range being just some of the brands to offer the grain. So when reflecting on the exclusivity of Rye Whisky in Scotland, the price, while expensive when compared to the wealth of options available, can be justified to a degree exactly because of this exclusivity.

However, the core range 1794 Single Grain is expensive, even though it is in an exclusive whisky category. Inevitably you will be comparing other Single Grain Whiskies, quite often, coming with an age statement and it will make you wonder why they are considerably cheaper than the Arbikie core release. With the exception of a handful of Scottish distilleries, most notably Loch Lomond, almost all Single Grain Whisky is independently bottled and while not always the case, is often cheaper than official bottles, this is almost always what is seen with Single Malt Scotch.

I think, what I am trying to get across is, Yes the 1794 is an expensive whisky, but it is unique, this brings exclusivity which commands a price. Coupled with the fact that Rye Whisky is not to everyone's taste, some may question the price further. Expand your palate and give it a try if you get the chance. The Distillery Exclusive, however, for my mind is win and definitely worth considering if you enjoy a rye whisky.

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