The Borders First Release 8 year Lowland Single Malt Whisky 46%

Hawick was making tweed and cashmere long before anyone thought about whisky. In 1837 the last distillery in the Borders shut its doors, and for almost two centuries the valleys stayed quiet. Then somebody lit the copper again, in an old Victorian building in the middle of town.

Expert description

The Borders First Release 8 year is a Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in 1st fill Bourbon casks, finished in Malmsey Madeira casks and bottled at 46%.

It is the first single malt from The Borders Distillery and the first whisky distilled in the Scottish Borders since 1837. Distilling began in 2018, so the eight years in the bottle cover almost the distillery's whole life. The release arrived in September 2026 and is limited to 10,000 bottles worldwide.

The barley comes from farms in the Borders, and the water is drawn from beneath the building itself. Fermentation runs for 72 hours, and the four copper stills are set up so the vapour meets as much copper as possible. That gives the light, fruity style the distillery has aimed for from the start.

The casks do the rest. 1st fill Bourbon casks are the foundation, adding caramel, vanilla, honey and a soft, rounded sweetness. A final spell in Madeira casks brings sultanas, warmth and extra depth.

Tasting notes

Nose

Honey and vanilla lead, with a soft, rounded sweetness behind them that recalls caramel.

Palate

Rich sultanas meet bright citrus and sweet caramel. The sweetness is round rather than sticky, with fresh orchard fruit from the Madeira casks.

Finish

Warm and lingering, with hazelnut and buttery macadamia at the end.

Specifications

Name: The Borders First Release 8 year Lowland Single Malt Whisky 46%
Distillery: The Borders Distillery
Region/Country: Lowland, Scotland
Type: Lowland Single Malt Whisky
Age: 8 year
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 1st fill Bourbon casks, finished in Malmsey Madeira casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distilled: 2018
Number of bottles: 10,000
Edition: First Release
EAN no.: 5060395400460

Flavour profile

Fruity · Sweet · Madeira-finished · Soft · Nutty

Investment potential

Medium. It is the first single malt from the Borders in 189 years, in an edition of 10,000 bottles, and first releases from new distilleries tend to attract collectors.

Did you know?

Hawick was once one of the richest towns in Britain, built on textiles. The distillery sits in a restored Victorian building that used to house the town's power station.

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Frequently asked questions about The Borders First Release 8 year

What does The Borders First Release 8 year taste like?

Sultanas, bright citrus and sweet caramel, with honey and vanilla on the nose and hazelnut in the finish. The Bourbon casks give the soft sweetness, while the Madeira casks add darker fruit and warmth. The style is round and fruit-driven.

What makes The Borders First Release 8 year special?

It is the first single malt from The Borders Distillery and the first whisky distilled in the Borders since 1837. It was distilled from 2018, the year the distillery opened, and the edition is limited to 10,000 bottles. It is also meant as the foundation for the distillery's future whiskies.

What does the Madeira finish do to the flavour?

The Madeira casks add sultanas, warmth and depth on top of the caramel, vanilla and honey from the Bourbon casks. Malmsey is the sweetest style of Madeira, and it explains much of the round sweetness in the glass.

How should you serve The Borders First Release 8 year?

Neat and without ice, at room temperature. Use a tulip-shaped whisky glass to gather the aroma, and try a few drops of water if you want to open up the sweetness and fruit further.

Is The Borders First Release 8 year a good gift?

Yes, especially for someone curious about new distilleries. It comes in a red tube-shaped gift box, and it carries a good story: the first single malt from the Borders in almost two hundred years.

Who makes The Borders First Release 8 year?

The Borders Distillery in Hawick, in the Scottish Borders, which opened in 2018. The distillery has also released blends such as Borders Malt & Rye while its own single malt was maturing.