Distiller brushes off Brexit to land new European contracts

Arbikie marks milestone with new export distribution deals

An Angus spirits producer has secured four new European export deals as Brexit looms.

Arbikie revealed the new distribution agreements to Belgium, Denmark, Italy and Germany as the Inverkeilor-based distillery marked its fourth birthday.

The firm has been producing its range of premium spirits since 2014 when it launched its first potato vodka and made its first foray into the export market late last year.

The company is now determined to grow overseas revenues, despite the uncertainty wrought by the current political climate.

The sales drive has seen Arbikie attend trade shows in Denmark and Belgium and the firm will also participate in a Scottish Governmentbacked trade mission to Spain this month.

The firm is also hoping to expand its horizons even further and is currently exploring potential distribution opportunities in America and Asia.

“We are delighted to have agreed these new export distribution deals as we celebrate our fourth birthday,” director Iain Stirling said.

“Our aim has always been to disrupt the spirits market by stressing the traceability of our base ingredients and how this impacts on flavour.

“Our global consumers are very much buying into the opportunity to trace the ingredients in their spirits.

“The growing desire for provenance and traceability of ingredients is very now and our new deals reflect this trend.”

Arbikie is based on the Stirling family estate outside Arbroath where it does everything from growing ingredients to distilling the spirits and bottling them for distribution.

In addition to its vodka and gin drinks, Arbikie recently branched into whisky production with the first Scotch rye in more than 200 years.

Tending to the stills at Arbikie in Angus.