| Whisky | The Borders First Release |
| Distillery | The Borders Distillery, Hawick |
| Region | Scottish Borders, Lowland |
| Age | 8 years |
| Strength | 46% ABV |
| Casks | First-fill bourbon, Madeira finish |
| Run | 10,000 bottles |
| Size | 70 cl |
| The bottle | The Borders First Release 8 year 70 cl |
Hawick: tweed, cashmere and now whisky
Hawick lies in the Scottish Borders, where Slitrig Water runs into the River Teviot. The first knitting frames came to town in 1771, and Hawick went on to become known for knitwear, cashmere and tweed. The word tweed is even said to come from here: in the early 1830s twill was misread as the River Tweed, and the name stuck. You can read more about the town on Wikipedia.
The industry has shrunk since then, but the pride in solid craftsmanship stayed in town. The knowledge handed down from generation to generation is the same the distillery now builds on.
From barley to bottle: ten farms, 72 hours and four copper stills
The barley comes from ten selected farms in the Borders, so every drop can be traced back to the field. The water is drawn from beneath the distillery building itself. Fermentation takes 72 hours, no rush, and distilling happens in four copper stills designed to give as much copper contact as possible. More copper contact generally gives a lighter, cleaner spirit, which suits a fruity single malt like this one.
Eight years on bourbon and a finish in Madeira
The backbone has spent eight years in first-fill bourbon casks, which give the soft, sweet base. At the end the whisky got a finish in Madeira casks, and that is where the deep spice and the ripe fruit come in. This is not a heavy sherry bomb. It is a dram that settles into a sweet, fruity groove and stays there.
First Release was launched in September 2026 and is limited to 10,000 bottles. It is the first time The Borders Distillery sends a single malt out into the world, and also the first whisky from the Borders in many years.
Tasting notes: honey, raisins and nuts
The nose opens with honey and vanilla, and just beneath sit light raisins and fresh citrus. On the palate it is sweet and full, with caramel at the bottom and both fresh and dried fruit on top. There is a hint of orange peel, something biscuity and ripe berries. The finish is warm and nutty, with hazelnut and a buttery macadamia.
| Nose | Honey, vanilla, light raisins, fresh citrus |
| Palate | Caramel, fresh and dried fruit, orange peel, biscuit, ripe berries |
| Finish | Warm and nutty: hazelnut and macadamia |
About The Borders Distillery
| Founded | 2018, by five friends |
| Place | Hawick, Scottish Borders |
| History | The first distillery in the Borders since 1837 |
| Barley | Ten farms in the Borders |
| Production | 72-hour fermentation, four copper stills |
| Website | thebordersdistillery.com |
How to taste it
Pour it into a Glencairn or a tulip-shaped glass and let it rest for a couple of minutes. 46% can take a drop of water, but try it without first. Put a bowl of honey, hazelnuts and a few blackberries next to it and you have almost made your own tasting sheet. Take it slowly: nose first, then a small sip, and wait for the finish, where the nut notes show up. You will find more fruity malts in our Lowland whisky.
Verdict: who is The Borders First Release for?
It is for you if you like soft, fruity single malts without smoke. It is not built to surprise, but to be easy to love. The Madeira finish adds a little more spice than a pure bourbon-matured eight-year-old usually has, and that is what lifts it.
As a Lowland single malt it is a good place to start if you want to understand what the Borders can do. And with only 10,000 bottles it is also a small collector's item: the first from a distillery that has only just begun. If you have tried Borders Malt & Rye, read Luka Gottschalk's post about it and see how the two fit together.
Frequently asked questions about The Borders First Release
What is The Borders First Release?
The first single malt from The Borders Distillery in Hawick. It is eight years old, bottled at 46% and matured in first-fill bourbon casks with a finish in Madeira casks.
Where is The Borders First Release made?
In Hawick in the Scottish Borders, in a restored Victorian building in the middle of town. The Borders lie in southern Scotland, and the whisky counts as a Lowland single malt.
Which casks are used?
Eight years in first-fill bourbon casks, followed by a finish in Madeira casks.
How many bottles are there?
The run is limited to 10,000 bottles worldwide.
What does The Borders First Release taste like?
The nose is honey, vanilla, light raisins and fresh citrus. The palate is sweet and full with caramel, fresh and dried fruit, orange peel, biscuit and ripe berries. The finish is warm and nutty with hazelnut and buttery macadamia.
How strong is it?
46% ABV. Enough to give flavour and body, and enough to take a single drop of water if you want to open it up a little.
What is Hawick known for?
Knitwear, cashmere and tweed. The town got its first knitting frames in 1771, and the word tweed is said to come from here.
Who is behind The Borders Distillery?
Five friends, who opened the distillery in 2018. It is the first in the Scottish Borders since 1837.
Where does the barley come from?
From ten selected farms in the Borders. That makes it possible to trace the raw material all the way back.
How do I drink it best?
Neat in a Glencairn or tulip glass. Let it rest a couple of minutes, try it without water first, and add a drop afterwards if you like.
Where can I buy The Borders whisky?
At Whisky.dk. You can buy The Borders First Release directly, or see the whole range under The Borders whisky.
Read on
See the bottle itself or the whole range of The Borders whisky, find more Lowland single malts, or read Luka Gottschalk's blog post about Borders Malt & Rye.
Want to try The Borders First Release?
You can buy The Borders First Release here, or buy The Borders whisky and see what else is on the shelf from the distillery in Hawick.
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Ulrik Bertelsen
