Five Star Spirit in the Scottish Borders

THE first whisky distillery in the Scottish Borders in more than 180 years has achieved one of the highest Quality Assurance accolades from the national tourism organisation just four months after it opened.

The Borders Distillery in Hawick, which opened to the public in May, has achieved the prestigious 5-star Visitor Attraction award from VisitScotland at its first grading visit.

The £10-million development on the site of the former Hawick Electric Company was opened by The Three Stills Company, creating up to 20 jobs. Visitors can enjoy a tour to find out more about the renovation and the workings of a fully functioning distillery which produces whisky and gin.

Although Scotch Whisky needs a legal minimum of three years to mature, The Borders Distillery has released William Kerr’s Borders Gin, made from scratch in Hawick using the distillery’s new-make malt spirit. It is named after William Kerr, the intrepid botanist, who was born in Hawick.

VisitScotland’s five star Quality Assurance Award recognises businesses which achieve exceptional levels of customer experience.

John Fordyce, founder of the Borders Distillery, said:“We are delighted to receive a 5-star accreditation from Visit Scotland. From our architects to our contractors to our excellent Distillery team the focus has been on creating something that which delights those who come to visit us. The Borders Distillery is the first Scotch Whisky distillery to operate in the Borders since 1837 and we look forward welcoming visitors for many years to come.”

Paula Ward, Regional Leadership Director of VisitScotland, said:“Congratulations to the team at Borders Distillery for this fantastic achievement, just months after they opened. It is great to see their hard work and commitment to providing a quality customer experience being recognised with this prestigious award. The Borders Distillery is a truly spectacular building that celebrates the building’s history and offers a fantastic insight into how whisky and gin is produced.

“Our Quality Assurance scheme helps businesses to reach their full potential and truly shine. The scheme is about more than just the ‘stars’ on the door - it’s about the entire visitor experience, about investing in your business, driving-up quality and creating jobs.

“Delivering a quality experience that meets, and exceeds, visitor expectations is crucial in making Scotland a must-visit, must-return destination.”

VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance schemes can open the door to new customers. It is a powerful marketing tool and works well with online review sites in using an independent perspective to measure visitor experience against tried and tested criteria, so visitors know exactly what to expect.

For more information, visit: www.thebordersdistillery.com

For more information on VisitScotland’s Quality Assurance scheme, please visit www.visitscotland.org/quality_assurance.aspx