Puffing Billy Steam Vodka - Borders Distillery (Scotland)

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 40% | Chill filtration: No

Special Features:

For Puffing Billy Steam Vodka, charcoal treatment takes place during distillation. The Borders Distillery first distils locally grown malted barley in pot stills. The spirit is then redistilled in a custom-built Carterhead still. Named Puffing Billy, this still also gives the vodka its name.

Inside the Carterhead still, the alcohol vapours pass through charcoal. The distillery does not filter the liquid vodka, preserving its grain character and texture. The result has a creamy mouthfeel and a subtle malty note. The vodka is bottled at 40% alcohol in a 0.7-litre bottle.

Puffing Billy can be enjoyed neat or over ice and also works in cocktails such as an Espresso Martini or Bloody Mary. Its rounded texture also pairs well with mixers with a bitter edge, such as tonic water or ginger beer.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, tropical fruit mingles with citrus notes and grassy hints.
• Palate: On the palate, the vodka recalls banana foam sweets and has a creamy sweetness.
• Finish: The finish is soft and creamy.

Distillery/Bottler:

The Borders Distillery is based in a restored Victorian building in Hawick in the Scottish Borders. The company was founded in 2013 by friends with many years of experience in the Scotch whisky industry. Distillation began in 2018, bringing whisky production back to the region for the first time since 1837. Alongside Scotch whisky, the distillery also produces gin and vodka from Borders barley.

Through the Borders Growers and Distillers Programme, the distillery works directly with ten local farms and Simpsons Malt. By-products of distillation are returned to the farms for energy and nutrient recovery. The barley for Puffing Billy is grown within approximately 56 kilometres of the distillery, and the team also carries out distillation on site.

Facts: