📌 Hawick, Scottish Borders
★★★
The Scottish Borders is a large and varied area, but there’s one thing it’s lacked for decades – until recently. The Borders Distillery opened its doors in 2018, making it the first (legal) whisky distillery to operate in the region since 1837. And the job’s a good ‘un: the site’s been beautifully converted from Victorian industrial buildings by the River Teviot in Hawick, retaining several original features including a (still operational) crane on rails above the washbacks. A lack of similar industry in the area brings challenges: no whisky knowledge among the local workforce, for example; production is being slowly increased as staff are trained. Our 2018 tour included a tasting of William Kerr’s Borders Gin – a worthwhile side project while the big brother barrels matured. We’re keen to try the finished product on a return visit, once it officially becomes whisky.
🌍 Location
📌 Commercial Road, 5-min walk northwest of Hawick town centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NT 502148
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.424538,-2.788696
🚌 Bus to Hawick
🚗 Car park on site for limited mobility users only – or street parking / car parks nearby
📝 Key info
⌚ Monday to Saturday, late March to late October
🎫 £20 adult / free for children
