$89.00
Volume: 700ml ABV: 43% Country: Scotland
William Kerr’s Borders Gin is a remarkably smooth, distinctive, and award winning craft spirit that stands proudly as a monumental achievement in modern grain to glass distilling. Produced at The Borders Distillery in Hawick, this exceptional release is named in honour of the legendary nineteenth century botanist William Kerr, a native of the town who travelled across the Orient and the Indian subcontinent to introduce over two hundred new plant species to Europe.
While the vast majority of commercial gin labels purchase industrial neutral grain spirit from external factories, this authentic Scottish expression is crafted entirely from scratch using locally grown Borders malted barley. This custom spirit base is then vapor infused with a highly selective blend of botanicals from near and far inside a specialized copper Carter Head still. Bottled at an optimal, premium strength of 43.0% ABV, this unadulterated gin uses its elevated proof to lock in deep citrus oils and warm spices against a uniquely rich, malty foundation.
The nose is wonderfully lifted, complex, and brightly aromatic, opening with dominant fragrances of classic piney juniper, fresh orange peel, and tangy citrus zest, before gradually uncurling to reveal softer undertones of dried herbs, sweet liquorice root, and a delicate hint of earthy cassia bark. On the palate, the house distilled malted barley base provides a beautifully rounded, velvety, and mouth coating viscosity that glides across the tongue with zero spirit heat or rough edges. Open, highly accessible flavours of creamy vanilla, candied orange, and bright juniper lead a powerful entry, transitioning smoothly into a warmer mid palate laced with hints of ground cinnamon, fresh mint, and cracked black pepper. The finish is of medium length, remarkably clean, and dry, leaving behind a trailing echo of dry citrus skin, subtle liquorice sweetness, and a final, satisfying wave of warming spice.
The careful grain selection, mashing parameters, and final small batch cuts of this expression are directed by Distillery Manager Andrew Nairn and Distiller Robyn Jardine at the Borders facility. Managing an infusion where the botanicals are steamed rather than boiled requires an extraordinary level of precision and timing. Because volatile citrus peels, delicate mint leaves, and intense cassia barks all possess radically different oil extraction rates, they can easily clash or turn the spirit overly bitter if the steam velocity is left unmonitored. The production team systematically samples the distillate line to isolate the exact heart of the run, utilising the extra strength of the 43% batching profile to lock in a heavier, more voluptuous mouthfeel across the final bottling run.
The Whisky Company Rating: 8.9/10
This premium 43% ABV barley to bottle distillation is widely celebrated across the international spirits community as a highly successful, exceptionally smart milestone of modern craft blending that functions as an excellent benchmark for base spirit innovation:
The Gin Cooperative Awards: A highly decorated and regular recipient of top honours, with professional blind tasting panels routinely praising its unique mouthfeel, immaculate structural balance, and smooth consistency.
The Scottish Gin Society: Bestowed high praise and top marks across comprehensive tasting flights, where reviewers heavily commended the way the rich barley foundation acts as a phenomenal canvas that holds botanical lipids far longer than standard wheat spirits.
Community Aggregate Panels: Holds a stable consumer aggregate rating of 84 out of 100 on platforms like Master of Malt, where everyday enthusiasts and craft collectors celebrate its distinctive citrus forward trajectory as an elite, characterful option for an upgraded gin and tonic.
The Verdict: While traditional gin purists who strictly favour the intense, dry, pine forward punch of a heavy London Dry can occasionally find its rich malt texture and sweet liquorice undertones unusual on the initial neat entry, the universal global consensus among experts is that this expression is an absolute triumph of contemporary curation. Its immaculate balance of fresh citrus oils, velvety barley lipids, and lingering spice makes it an elite everyday luxury pour.
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“A review from a customer who benefited from your product. Reviews can be a highly effective way of establishing credibility and increasing your company's reputation.”
