Border Blend 1970’s BottlingFinest Scotch Whisky

Well, here we have a real treat, a bottling from our very own city. From the 1970’s bottled for the Carlisle & District State Management Scheme. The State Management Scheme was based on the principle of reducing excessive drinking by closing down breweries and many public houses, and in those licensed premises that survived, managers were employed who had no incentive to sell alcohol. The whole business of drinking was made more salubrious by replacing old-fashioned, sub-standard pubs with modern ones, based on a standard design.

The scheme brewed beer and had spirits produced and bottled for its use. In terms of Scotch whisky, the Scheme offered Border Blend Finest Scotch Whisky. Carlisle State Management Scheme was established in 1916, to curb drunkenness in and around Carlisle. 10 miles away from the Carlisle, vast armaments factories had been created at Gretna, and there was concern that excessive drinking was interfering with the optimum efficiency of these factories. Other similar schemes existed at Enfield, Greater London, and Invergordon on the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands. Remarkably, in the case of Carlisle, the State Management Scheme remained in place until 1971, when lobbying by brewing interests led Edward Heath’s Conservative government to abolish the Scheme, with assets being sold off to eager brewers and pub operators.

Please note: this bottle is part of a private collection, if you would like more information or photos please get in touch.