“We’ve got something really special right here on our doorstep and I don’t think enough people realise it.”
Steve Currie, a former local beer brewer from Galashiels has become the first participant to go behind the scenes as a ‘Distiller for a Day’ at The Borders Distillery in Hawick.
After years working in brewing, Steve wanted to see first hand the inner workings of his local distillery. Although Steve was familiar with the drinks industry, he had never experienced distilling at this level before, so he booked the experience as a birthday treat for himself.
The initiative comes as interest in whisky tourism and investment in hands-on food and drink experiences continues to grow across Scotland. ‘Distiller for a Day’ offers whisky fans a fully immersive opportunity to step inside the working distillery and learn the art of whisky, gin and vodka production directly from the people who make it.
“I’ve always appreciated the skill that goes into distilling but seeing the process up close gave me a whole new appreciation for the amount of time and care involved in whisky and gin production.” Steve said.
He signed up for the experience to learn more about one of the Borders’ growing success stories and to support a business he believes more people should discover.
“We’ve got something really special right here on our doorstep and I don’t think enough people realise it. The distillery is doing brilliant work for the area and experiences like this really help you connect with it on a deeper level.”
During the experience, Steve took part in milling, mashing, distillation, warehousing and sampling spirit straight from cask alongside the distillery team. To mark the occasion, ‘Distillers for a Day’ are also kitted out in official distillery uniform, enjoy lunch with the team and receive a framed Distiller’s Certificate along with a curated goodie bag to take home.
The Borders Distillery opened in 2018 as the first Scotch whisky distillery in the Scottish Borders since 1837. Kirsten Blackburn, Head of Marketing at The Borders Distillery, said: “We are so proud that Steve was the first person to experience life as a Distiller for a Day at The Borders Distillery.
“Distillery experiences have evolved significantly in recent years, with visitors increasingly looking for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that allow them to fully immerse themselves in the production process. It was therefore really important to us that we had an experience that offered unparalleled access to the distillery and our talented team.”
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“Connecting to the local community and giving people the opportunity to see first hand everything that goes into each bottle we produce is so important. Having someone local like Steve take part made the experience even more special and shows the growing interest in whisky making here in the Borders.”
The Distiller for a Day experience culminates with the opportunity to fill your own cask on the production floor. The ticket price is also redeemable against a private 1837 cask, allowing guests to lay down a personal piece of the distillery’s future.
The Borders Distillery is running an extended Distiller for a Day experience week commencing the 24 August with tickets priced at £250 per person. To book the experience or learn more please visit: https://thebordersdistillery.com/product/distiller-for-a-day/
