Borders

Where is it from?
Kelso

What's in it?
Juniper, cinnamon, angelica and secret botanicals.

What's the damage?
£40.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
40% ABV

What makes it interesting?

The signature gin from the Kelso Gin Company, the first distillery in The Borders in 180 years. Legend says that The Crow Man was a travelling medicine man who toured the Borders offering the ailing, the weary and the lovelorn 'little brighteners' from his leather gladstone bag. Tales were told of men who were restored and women who were soothed by his special mixes of herbs, spices and secret ingredients. The gin is smooth and creamy as a result of only using the heart of the spirit from the still. Their second gin, Crow Man’s Lovage Gin, uses a rare ancient herb to give a fresh mouthfeel, with olives and orange zest for a light Mediterranean touch. The Elephant Gin is inspired by fokelore that an elephant is buried under Kelso Square. It is strong on flavour and uses spices gathered from orient, mixed with local ingredients.

Gins in the Kelso Gin Company family:
Crow Man's Gin
Crow Man's Lovage Gin
Kelso Elephant Gin
Crow Man's Dead Nettle Gin 
Kelso Raspberry Gin
Kelso Reiver Spirit
Kelso Rhubarb Gin 
Kelso St Abbs Lifeboat Gin

Distilled in Kelso, Scottish Borders, Scotland.

Where is it from?
Jedburgh

What's in it?
Juniper, locally foraged botanicals

What's the damage?
£32.00 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
40% ABV

What makes it interesting?

Built in a converted cowshed, the team behind Lilliard Gin is proud to have one of the smallest production stills in the UK. The gin takes its name from legendary Borders figure Lilliard, the heroine of the Battle of Ancrum Moor in 1545 who reputedly fought to avenge the death of her lover at the hands of the English. The battle site, just north of the distillery, is known as Lilliard's Edge. Lilliard Gin is a light floral gin which aims to capture the rich abundance of wild botanicals on the doorstep of the Teviot Valley, highlighting the local flavour palate and Borders terroir. 

Distilled in Jedburgh, Scottish Borders, Scotland.

Where is it from?
Selkirk, Scottish Borders

What's in it?
Juniper, angelica root, grapefruit, lemon and orange peel, liquorice root and whin flower.

What's the damage?
£36 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
43% ABV

What makes it interesting?

The two couples behind Reiver’s Gin believed that the Scottish Borders with its rich history and wealth of natural resources could produce high quality spirits. As a result, the main botanical in Reiver’s Gin – the whin flower - grows wild on the rolling lowland hills of Selkirkshire. Known as the golden flower of Thor, this is hand-picked, cleaned and dried before infusing it within their gin. Their next creation was Bannock Gin – another ingredient deeply rooted in Selkirk which is home of the original bannock. This 40.5% vol gin uses a classic juniper-led gin as its base, then the Selkirk Bannock is added and allowed to macerate for one month, recreating the rich, buttery flavours of a bannock in a bottle.

Gins in the Reiver’s Gin family:
Reiver’s Gin
Bannock Gin

Distilled under contract in Perthshire, Scotland. 

Where is it from?
Hawick, Scottish Borders

What's in it?
Juniper, angelica, coriander, liquorice and cassia.

What's the damage?
£33 for 70cl

Is it Strong?
43% ABV

What makes it interesting?

William Kerr was an accomplished botanist from Hawick who became a gardener at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London. He is known as one of Scotland’s most renowned plant-hunters whose tireless work contributed over 200 new plants to the UK. Produced by The Borders Distillery with the team’s own original barley-based spirit, this gin is distilled in a specially commissioned Carter Head still - one of only three of its kind in the UK. A special feature of the still is a copper basket that suspends the botanicals in the vapour of the original spirit; this gentle steaming captures the subtle aromas and complex flavours.

Distilled in Hawick, Scottish Borders.