A BORDERS business has celebrated its third anniversary with two accolades and the success of its new shop.
Selkirk Distillers, which opened its store front in Selkirk in November 2021, revealed earlier this month that two of its gins had successfully won in two categories at The Gin Guide Awards 2022.
The first gin made by the distillery, Selkirk Gin, and one of the company’s charity gins, Tilda’s Tipple both won recognition.
Allan Walker, who runs Selkirk Distillers, said: “It’s just fantastic news for us.
“We worked really hard to get Selkirk Gin out there and Tilda’s Tipple was a charitable gin in remembrance of my sister-in-law Matilda Jaffray who passed away. So, to win that with her gin was really special.”
Tilda was diagnosed with glioblastoma in July 2019. The gin inspired by her supports The Brain Tumour Charity, with £5 from every £35 bottle going to the charity.
At The Gin Guide Awards Tilda’s Tipple won in the Contemporary Gin Category.
Also winning an award, Selkirk Gin – a London dry gin with a citrus flavour – was the winner in the Traditional Gin Category at the 2022 awards.
Allan said: “The Gin Guide is world-wide awards that we entered with Tilda’s Tipple and Selkirk Gin – both winning in their categories.
“Both obtained the highest scores for their categories.”
Combining the success of the distillery at the awards, and the business’s growing presence in the Borders thanks to its new shop on the High Street and at farmers markets and attractions around the region, Selkirk Distillers is going from strength to strength.
“It’s [the shop] given us a footprint in the town now,” said Allan, “which is great because otherwise we were just at the distillery where you’ve got the odd visitor, the odd person popping in. Now we’re getting regular customers, we’re getting the tourist trade now as well which is great.
“Bottles of Selkirk Gin, which is now award-winning, are flying out everywhere, all over the UK, which is great.”
The distillery is always creating something new.
In the very near future the business will have a coffee gin available to buy, and to celebrate the upcoming Common Riding, Standard Bearer Adam Nichol has worked with Allan and the distillery to create a cocktail for the occasion.
Allan added: “The other one [gin] we’re doing for the town itself is for Selkirk Cricket Club.
“They’re celebrating 150 years of existence this year.”
For more information, visit the Selkirk Distillers shop, or visit its website.
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