Nàdar gin was created by Arbikie master distiller, PhD student Kirsty Black, following five years of research.
Arbikie Distillery in Scotland claims to have developed the world’s first “climate-positive” gin, created using garden peas.
Five years in the making, Nàdar gin was created by Arbikie master distiller, PhD student Kirsty Black, with help from Abertay University and the James Hutton Institute in Scotland.
Flavoured using natural botanicals, lemongrass and citrus leaf, the 43% ABV gin has a “fresh and fruity” aroma.
Each 700ml bottle of Nàdar has a carbon footprint of -1.54 kg CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent), meaning it avoids more carbon dioxide emissions than it creates.
This environmental performance is mainly achieved by using all useful components of the peas from the dehulling and distilling process, to create home-grown animal feed.
It also takes advantage of the vegetable’s natural ability to source essential nitrogen for growth from the atmosphere, negating the need for synthetic fertilisers.
During harvesting, some nitrogen is left behind in crop residues, improving soil fertility and function for the next crop in the rotation, thereby further reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers.
During distilling, a waste product known as ‘pot ale’ is created from the leftover pea protein and spent yeast, which can be used as a nutritious animal feed.
The aim is to offset the high environmental costs of importation of animal feeds.
The first batch of Arbikie pea gin pot-ale is currently being used to feed cows on a farm neighbouring the distillery, which is based near Montrose.
Black’s PhD at Abertay University and the James Hutton Institute is focused on exploring the potential of pulses such as peas and beans as an environmentally sustainable feedstock to the brewing and distilling industries.
The research team is also working to investigate whether pot-ale protein can be isolated and used as a source of food for humans.
“At Arbikie, everything we do is dictated by the seasons and our geographical location,” said Black. “Year on year, we see the weather, harvest timings and crop quality change; all highlighting the need to address the climate crisis now.
“By producing the world’s first climate-positive gin, we are taking initial steps towards improving our environmental impact, while demonstrating what can be achieved when like-minded researchers and businesses come together.”
Bottles of Nàdar gin are available on the Arbikie Distillery website for £43.
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