The Borders Distillery

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Bringing Whisky Back to the Scottish Borders
At the heart of Hawick, The Borders Distillery is helping to write a new chapter in the long history of whisky-making in the Scottish Borders.
Founded in 2013 by a group of friends with extensive experience in the Scotch whisky industry, the distillery was created with a simple ambition: to bring whisky production back to the Borders. When spirit first flowed from the stills in 2018, it marked the return of Scotch whisky production to the region for the first time since 1837.

The distillery occupies a beautifully restored former Edwardian electrical works in Hawick. The building's industrial character has been retained, including its impressive glass roof and original structural features, creating a fascinating setting where Hawick's manufacturing heritage meets modern spirit production. The building itself has received recognition for its architectural and conservation work. 

Hawick has long been associated with making and craftsmanship. Famous for its textile, cashmere and knitwear industries, the town provides a fitting home for a distillery whose philosophy is similarly rooted in making things locally and with care. 

A Modern Scottish Distillery with a Local Heart
Local provenance is an important part of The Borders Distillery story. Barley is sourced from farms in the Scottish Borders, with the distillery working directly with local growers. The distillery describes its Borders Growers & Distillers programme as a circular approach, with by-products from distilling returned to participating farms for energy and nutrients. 

Inside the distillery, the process takes place under one roof, from mashing and fermentation through to distillation. The current distillery uses four copper pot stills, while its production also incorporates a specially commissioned Carterhead still for its gin and vodka. 

The result is a range of spirits that reflects both traditional Scotch whisky-making and a willingness to experiment.
Whisky, Gin and Vodka
Whisky is at the heart of The Borders Distillery, with its production now reaching an important new stage. The distillery's first own Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been developed after years of maturation, with its inaugural release described as a smooth, elegant and fruit-forward whisky, matured initially in first-fill bourbon barrels before a final Madeira cask maturation. 

Alongside its Single Malt, the distillery has developed a collection of experimental and blended Scotch whiskies. The Workshop Series has explored different approaches to flavour, fermentation, distillation and maturation, including Borders Malt & Rye, The Long & Short of It, Right As Rain and Deep Time. 

The distillery also produces Kerr's Gin, named after Hawick-born botanist William Kerr. It is made using malted Scottish Borders barley, with the grain sourced from farms within 35 miles of the distillery. Its Carterhead still uses vapour infusion to gently extract flavours from the botanicals, giving the gin its distinctive character. 

Then there's Puffing Billy Steam Vodka, an unusual malted-barley vodka produced using the distillery's specially commissioned Carterhead still. Rather than being traditionally liquid-filtered, the spirit is steam-smoothed through charcoal within the still, retaining more of the character and texture of the locally grown barley. 

So whether your preference is whisky, gin or vodka, there is plenty to discover at The Borders Distillery.

Visiting The Borders Distillery
A visit to The Borders Distillery offers the opportunity to see a working Scottish distillery rather than simply a visitor attraction.
Guided tours take visitors behind the scenes, exploring the history of the distillery and the process involved in creating its spirits. Tours take in the mashing, fermentation and distillation areas, with visitors able to see the copper stills and learn how the different production techniques influence the final spirit. 

Tours are approximately 45 minutes and are led by members of the distilling team. Tastings form part of the experience, while drivers can request samples to enjoy later. Under-18s are welcome on tours when accompanied by an adult, and the distillery states that its visitor route is fully accessible.
It's worth booking ahead, particularly at busy times, as the distillery recommends advance booking to guarantee a place. The visitor experience also includes a Brand Home and shop where visitors can explore the distillery's spirits and gifts.

The Borders Distillery
Commercial Road
Hawick
Scottish Borders
TD9 7AQ

Getting to The Borders Distillery by Bus
One of the easiest ways to include The Borders Distillery in a Scottish Borders food and drink adventure is by public transport.
The distillery is on Commercial Road in Hawick, and Hawick is served by the Borders Buses X95, connecting the town with other parts of the Scottish Borders. This makes it particularly convenient for visitors travelling between Galashiels, Selkirk and Hawick.
Taste The Borders
The X95 also makes The Borders Distillery an ideal stop on the Taste The Borders Distillers Trail, linking three Scottish Borders distilling experiences:
Peebles → Galashiels → Selkirk → Hawick
Starting in Peebles, visitors can take the X62 to Galashiels, change for the X95 and continue through Selkirk to Hawick and The Borders Distillery. The trail can also be travelled in the opposite direction, making it possible to start your distilling adventure in Hawick.
Taste The Borders
For anyone wanting to enjoy a few tastings along the way, travelling by bus means you can leave the car behind and concentrate on discovering the spirits, stories and scenery of the Scottish Borders.
The Borders Distillery and the Scottish Borders
The return of whisky-making to the Borders is about more than simply producing another Scotch whisky. It connects a modern distillery with a region that has a long tradition of manufacturing, agriculture and craftsmanship.
The distillery's approach brings together locally grown barley, Borders water, traditional distilling techniques and modern ideas, while its home in Hawick places it firmly within one of the Scottish Borders' great manufacturing towns.

For visitors exploring the region, The Borders Distillery offers a chance to experience this story first-hand — from the historic building and working stills to the people, processes and spirits that are helping put the Scottish Borders back on Scotland's whisky map.

Plan Your Visit
The Borders Distillery
Commercial Road, Hawick, Scottish Borders, TD9 7AQ
Tours: Advance booking is recommended.
Experience: Guided distillery tour, tasting, Brand Home and shop.
By bus: The X95 provides a connection from and  between Carlisle, Hawick, Selkirk, Galashiels amd Edinburgh.

The Borders Distillery part of  

 "The Distillers Trail"