Heritage & Distillery
Arbikie Distillery on the Angus coast of Scotland has positioned itself at the forefront of sustainable spirits production, and the Nadar collection — whose name derives from the Gaelic for "nature" — represents the most ambitious expression of that commitment. Nadar vodka is claimed to be the world's first climate-positive spirit, with CO2 emissions of less than 1.53 kilograms per bottle — a figure achieved through the use of peas as the base material, which fix nitrogen in the soil and reduce the need for synthetic fertilisers, combined with the retention of the pea protein residue as animal feed.
Production
The use of peas as a base material for vodka is not merely an environmental gesture — it produces a spirit with a distinctive character quite unlike anything achievable with conventional grain or potato bases. The peas are grown on Arbikie's own farm, fermented and distilled four times, and bottled at 43% ABV. The higher bottling strength preserves the unusual flavour compounds that the pea base contributes, and the result is a vodka that is both environmentally progressive and gastronomically interesting.
Tasting Notes
The nose is smooth and silky, with green pea, fresh herbs, subtle minerality, and gentle white pepper — a profile that is immediately identifiable as something other than a standard grain vodka. On the palate, the spirit is creamy and distinctive, with sweet pea, fresh garden herbs, white chocolate, and gentle spice. The texture is beautifully smooth, and the depth of flavour is impressive for what might, in less capable hands, have been a novelty product. The finish is medium-long, clean and herbal with a warming peppery close and lingering sweetness.
The Serve
Nadar is sufficiently interesting to merit neat sipping — serve slightly chilled in a nosing glass to appreciate its unusual aromatics. In cocktails, it brings a distinctive herbal quality to a Gimlet or a clean Vodka Tonic, and its environmental credentials add a genuinely meaningful talking point.
Verdict
Arbikie Nadar succeeds where many sustainability-focused spirits fail — it delivers a liquid of genuine quality and interest, not merely a good conscience. The climate-positive credentials are impressive, but what elevates this vodka is the fact that the pea base produces a spirit of genuine character and complexity. A vodka that does good and tastes good — a rare combination indeed.
