Borders Distillery – First Release 8 Year Old (70cl, 46%)

This is the first release from the Borders Distillery, an 8 year old Lowland single malt bottled by the distillery at 46% ABV in a 70cl bottle. It was matured in first fill bourbon casks and finished in a Madeira cask. The outturn is 10,000 bottles, and the whisky is natural colour and non-chill-filtered. The nose combines creamy caramel, runny honey, vanilla and the dark depth of sultanas. The palate is soft, with ripe berries and rounded sweetness, given structure by a little ginger. The finish is long, with fine oak spice and lingering sweet sultanas.