The latest bottling to join the Whisky Magazine Special Selection has been revealed. The Arbikie Highland Rye 2017 has been released as part of Whisky Magazine's 25th anniversary celebrations.
The cask was sourced from the Distillers One of One auction in 2021. Held every two years by the Distillers’ Charity, the philanthropic arm of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, the Distillers One of One auction offers unique, one-off lots submitted by distillers across the Scotch whisky industry. Proceeds are donated to charity, the main beneficiary being the Distillers' Youth Action Fund.
The Whisky Magazine Special Selection Arbikie Highland Rye 2017 is a single cask, single grain whisky. Distilled from grain sourced from Arbikie's own farm estate, the whisky has been matured for seven years in an American whiskey cask.
The Scottish rye in the mash bill is the star of this bottling, providing a bold flavour, with the wheat and barley providing complementary creamy and biscuity notes. Both Arbikie's tradition and innovation are present in the bottle.
Just 275 bottles of the Whisky Magazine Special Selection Arbikie Highland Rye 2017 are available. The whisky is bottled at 48% ABV and available via Royal Mile Whiskies for RRP £99. To purchase, visit https://rmwlink.co/WhiskyMagazineArbikie.
Tasting Whisky Magazine Special Selection Arbikie Highland Rye 2017
Nose: Creamy, with rice pudding and toasted vanilla. Rye and oat crackers. Sharp citrus bite — lemongrass, and lemon and lime sherbet — and a hint of Chablis-like minerality. Light notes of honey, underripe plum, and straw. Whole-milk latte.
Palate: Medium-full bodied, retaining that creaminess. Toasted vanilla pod, with roasted coffee notes and a hint of caramelised white chocolate. Cinnamon and vanilla sugar-dusted doughnut. Slight anise notes of clove and liquorice. Continuing citrus-sherbet tingle. Sweet and spicy grain notes run as an undercurrent.
Finish: Long, but gentle. Crisp green apple, honey, and rye cracker come through in the finish with a final twist of lemon peel.