Borders Malt & Rye Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%

In 1837 the last whisky production in the Scottish Borders shut down. It took 181 years before anyone tried again. This bottle is among the first things the new distillery in Hawick sent out into the world.

Expert description

Borders Malt & Rye is a Blended Scotch Whisky bottled at 40%.

The release is the first in The Borders Distillery's Workshop Series and appeared in 2022. The name says what it is: a marriage of malt whisky and rye, an unusual combination in Scotch whisky, where rye has historically played a very small part.

The Borders Distillery opened in 2018 in Hawick and was the first Scottish whisky distillery in the Borders since 1837. The Workshop Series is the house playground, where grain types and cask types are tested while the proper single malt is still maturing.

Tasting notes

Nose

Spiced rye bread crumb with cinnamon, dill and a pale malty sweetness underneath.

Palate

Dry and peppery from the rye, met by caramel from the malt and a stroke of vanilla. There is a fresh, almost minty edge.

Finish

Medium and dry with spice, grain and a lightly sweet tail.

Specifications

Name: Borders Malt & Rye Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%
Distillery: The Borders Distillery
Region/Country: Scottish Borders, Scotland
Type: Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Edition: Workshop Series WS:01
EAN no.: 5060947341203

Flavour profile

Spiced · Dry · Grainy · Fresh · Malty

Did you know?

The Borders Distillery occupies a former electricity works building from the early 1900s in Hawick. The town is best known for knitwear and cashmere, not whisky — until recently.

See our full range of The Borders Distillery

Frequently asked questions about Borders Malt & Rye Blended Scotch Whisky 70 cl 40%

What is rye whisky?

Whisky made wholly or partly from rye instead of barley. Rye typically gives a dry, peppery and spiced profile familiar from American rye whiskey. In Scotland it is rare.

Is it a single malt?

No, it is a blended Scotch whisky, because it combines malt whisky with whisky made from rye. See the differences between the Scottish categories under Scotch Whisky.

Why is there no age statement?

Because the distillery only opened in 2018. The whisky is young and released precisely to show what the house is working on while the older malt continues to mature in the warehouse.

How is it best enjoyed?

Neat or in a cocktail. The rye spice makes it a good choice in a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned, where the dry edge gets something sweet to work against.

What characterises whisky from the Scottish Borders?

There are still very few examples, so a regional style is not yet established. The area has historically been shaped by farming and the wool trade, and the distilleries now building up often work with local grain.

Is it peated?

No. There is no peat in this release — the spice comes from the rye, not from smoke. Smoked alternatives are gathered under Peaty Whisky.