Collection - Steel Bonnets

Back to all collections

The first cross-border blend of English and Scotch malt whisky

Steel Bonnets is a blend of kindred spirits – malt whiskies from both England and Scotland. At its heart is The Lakes Single Malt whisky, created to honour the people and heritage of our distillery in of the Border region. It is the winner of the 2018 Gold Medal in the Luxury Whisky Masters Ultra-Premium World Whisky Category, and the 2019 winner of the World Whiskies Award 'Best English Malt'.

World Whiskies Award 2019
Gold Medal - Best English Blended Malt

Spirits Business Luxury Masters Awards 2018
Gold Medal - Ultra Premium Whisky (over £51)

Divider NEW

Past hostilities forgotten, this is a union of all that is good

This frontier territory, so distant from Crown, proved difficult to govern. In early English, to ‘reive’ was to rob, and from this were born ‘The Border Reivers’, nicknamed the ‘Steel Bonnets’ after the helmets they wore for protection. Robbery, raiding and riding were everyday professions born out of a need to survive.

These people did not see themselves as English or Scottish and developed a certain independence of spirit. Clans both sides of the border claimed allegiance to Kin not Kingdom, creating a unique blend of people that lived, loved and died for each other.

Download the Steel Bonnets Story

Divider NEW

The Border Clans

Loyalty in this era was to the clan - to the family. These loyalties had no border or king, but were united under their clan name. 

Whiskymaker notes

Raise a glass to family & friends. May they be of the past, present, or future.

Creamy vanilla and comforting woodsmoke are interwoven to create a whisky born of the unique rugged character and heritage of the of the Scottish & English borderlands. The whisky has creamy, slightly nutty & full bodied flavour. Notes of vanilla, ginger, nutmeg, and hints dried fruit are all held together with a sweet layer of woodsmoke.

Bottled at 46.6% ABV allowing us to retain the smoothness and the depth of flavour imparted by our casks. This whisky will be non-chill filtered and bottled at natural colour.

Shop Steel Bonnets

Top