In the early 19th Century, William Kerr, the talented yet humble botanist, leaves his home town of Hawick in the Scottish Borders, to explore The Orient and the Indian Sub-Continent, seeking new species of plant to send back to Europe. Kerr’s Gin celebrates the man himself and the explorer, adventurer and discoverer in all of us.
Extensive renovation and investment has gone into the impressive distillery, home to a range of spirits. As well as winning awards for both the distillery architecture and the spirit they create, Borders employ and train a number of young locals to learn the craft of distilling.
William Kerr's Borders Gin is the inaugural gin release from The Borders Distillery. One of a handful of Scottish Gin producers making their own base spirit, the distillery add their own blend of traditional gin botanicals to their specially commissioned Carter Head Still to create a smooth gin with flavours of pine, citrus, cinnamon and mint. Paying homage to William Kerr himself, a local botanist who travelled near and far to discover new species of plant, the beautifully designed label showcases the botanicals from near and far, which include juniper, cassia bark, orange peel and liquorice root.
Key Botanical(s): Citrus Peel, Coriander Seeds
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: A twist of lemon, tonic and ice.
This limited edition run of only 2,022 bottles, released in June 2022, is a Navy Strength version of the original William Kerr’s Borders Gin, distilled at 57.1% ABV. The bottle is a striking royal blue and entirely paperless using state of the art technology at Scottish bottle decorators Image on Glass.
Key Botanical(s): Citrus Peel, Coriander Seeds
Gin Style: Navy Strength
Strength: 57.1% vol
Goes great with: A slice of orange, tonic and ice.
This Limited Edition ceramic bottle was handmade by Rupert Blamire Ceramics with glaze colours inspired by the Borders in the Spring. Just over 300 of these handcrafted ceramic bottles were produced in Spring 2021.
Key Botanical(s): Citrus Peel, Coriander Seeds
Gin Style: London Dry
Strength: 43% vol
Goes great with: A twist of lemon, tonic and ice.
The Borders Distillery is the first Scotch Whisky distillery in the Scottish Borders since 1837. The distillery opened its doors in March 2018. Set in the former Hawick Electric Company, the building had seen a number of uses over the years and at one point generated all the power for the town of Hawick. The sympathetic renovation of the site to accommodate the new distillery was awarded the Heritage Project of the Year award in 2018. The distillery features plenty of copper with the whisky stills and carter head gin still, a tasting room and bar along with a shop selling a variety of products, gifts and more.
Tour: Yes
Shop: Yes
Booking: Book a distillery tour here
You can learn more about the maker by clicking the links below.
