The Borders Distillery has released The Cornets Blend, a limited-edition blended Scotch whisky created in partnership with Hawick’s Common Riding Committee and the town’s 2026 Cornet, Jordan Nuttall. The inaugural annual release is limited to 512 bottles, marking the festival’s 512th year, and is priced at £40.
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READ THE STORYThe expression is the first in a planned series of yearly releases, each developed in collaboration with the serving Cornet, the principal frontman of the historic Common Riding festival in the Scottish Borders town of Hawick.
Nuttall hand-selected the blend for this debut edition, ensuring it reflects his individual taste. The label design also incorporates his creative direction, featuring colorways and imagery tied to his personal story and the spirit of the festival.
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“This launch represents more than just a whisky,” said Kirsten Blackburn-Elsdon, head of marketing at The Borders Distillery. “It’s a tribute to Hawick’s Common Riding and the people who keep this centuries-old tradition alive.”
“By placing the Cornet at the heart of the creation process, we’re capturing an authentic and personal expression of Borders culture in every bottle,” Blackburn-Elsdon added.
Future releases will continue this legacy, offering a new interpretation each year while strengthening ties between the distillery, the festival, and the wider Borders community.
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Hawick’s Common Riding is one of Scotland’s oldest annual festivals, dating back to 1514. The tradition commemorates a group of young men who captured an English flag following the Battle of Flodden. The Cornet, elected each year, leads the festival’s mounted procession and serves as a symbolic figurehead for the town.
The Borders Distillery, founded in 2017, is the first Scotch whisky distillery to operate in the Scottish Borders region in nearly 200 years. It has positioned itself as a champion of local heritage since its inception.
The 512 bottles will be available through the distillery’s website for UK distribution and via click-and-collect from its brand home on Commercial Road in Hawick. Bottles will also be stocked at Teviot Wines, a local off-license in the town.
The distillery described the project as both a collector’s item and a celebration of community, designed to resonate with Borders residents and whisky enthusiasts alike.
