Scottish distillery launches ‘climate-positive’ vodka

The Arbikie Distillery in Scotland has launched a ‘climate-positive’ brand of vodka, which uses the humble garden pea to create a more environmentally friendly spirit.

Nàdar (Gaelic for ‘nature’) Vodka is the second spirit in the firm’s ‘climate-positive’ range after it also launched a gin using the same techniques earlier this year.

The vodka is crafted from the pea-base spirit originally developed for Nàdar Gin, which avoids more carbon dioxide emissions than it creates with a carbon saving of over1.53 kg CO₂e per bottle. 

This new spirit derives its environmental performance from again utilising the humble garden pea and avoiding the need for synthetic fertiliser and reliance on imported protein for animal feed. 

The single-estate distiller controls the growing, distilling and bottling process, which ensures exceptional provenance and traceability.

‘We’re always looking to think differently, and by aligning our distillery production with the activity of the farm, we are using our knowledge of growing, and the vagaries of the changing Scottish climate, and indeed how these factors impact our growing season, to produce the finest spirits from some of the best agricultural land in the country,’ said master distiller, Kirsty Black.

‘By shifting our focus to climate change and biodiversity loss we not only want to minimise our impact on the environment but also inspire and demonstrate to others the potential options available and how they might take advantage of these challenges.’

Ms Black created the climate-positive spirit after five years of extensive research with top scientists at Abertay University and the James Hutton Institute in Scotland.

With Arbikie Distillery being the latest drinks company to announce its commitment to producing more ethical products, sustainability is the sole innovative focus behind its field-to-bottle spirits range.

‘Arbikie is focused on becoming one of the world’s most sustainable distilleries, as both farmers and distillers we are in an ideal position to grow & distil our family of sustainable spirits,’ said distillery director, Iain Stirling.

‘Sustainable products, particularly in the area of food and drink, are undoubtedly the future, and they will be the major economic driving force in the years to come, not just in Scotland, but across the world.

‘We are fortunate to have such a wonderful environment from which we can produce the highest quality of spirits, and we’re proud to play a part at the vanguard of what is becoming a global movement,’ he added.

Photo Credit – Supplied