Tácnbora (Standard Bearer) Tour

We celebrate the unsung heroes of the North East! The Tácnbora Tour celebrates individuals and groups making a real difference in their communities.

Celebrating the North East’s Community Heroes

The Tácnbora Tour is all about celebrating the amazing people and groups who make the North East such a special place. In partnership with Destination North East England, we are shining a spotlight on those who bring communities together, make a difference, and inspire others.

It’s about the unsung heroes – the people and groups who quietly make life better for everyone around them. Whether it’s organising a weekly run, teaching kids to bake, running a local cycling club, a walking football club, Bollywood dancing or even something a bit more unusual, if it connects people and makes a positive impact, it counts!

Our winners and finalists were nominated for doing something great. The nominations were then selected by an independent panel creating a shortlist, and we took the Tácnbora Tour on the road from January to March, visiting the communities across the region and celebrating their work with on-the-road events, social media highlights, film, and press coverage. The route was designed to reach the top of Northumberland to the bottom of Durham.

The Tour lead up to the Tácnbora Awards Ceremony on 20th March (St Cuthbert's Day), where we highlighted the incredible contributions of all our finalists and crowned one individual and one group with the prestigious Tácnbora (meaning Standard Bearer in old English) Award for 2026.

2027 Tácnbora Tour and Awards will open soon for nominations.

2026 Winners

Community Group Standard Bearer – Phoenix Choir

Individual Community Standard Bearer – Rona Hardy, Shotton Community

2026 Finalists

Groups		Individuals
Charity Shops 4 U		Lorna Silverston
Coquetdale Lunch Club		Linnea Tormajer
Elswick Community Pool and Gym		Lesley Rowley
Community Shops, Haltwhistle		Wayne Dobson
Phoenix choir		Claire Knowles
Biking Vikings		Rona Hardy
Hospice Care North Northumberland		Sam Gilchrist
Tyne to Summit		Jenny Pollock
High Spen Gems Rapper Sword Dancers
Alnwick Stage Musical Society
West End Women and Girls

Click here to read about what they do in their communities.

Events

Our Tácnbora Tour Events are the perfect complement to the journey itself — bringing people together to taste our whisky, meet the team behind the tour, and dive deeper into what we’re doing and why it matters.

At each stop, these gatherings are relaxed, welcoming opportunities to:

Sample our whiskies — from core expressions to special releases;
Learn more about the Tácnbora Tour — hear our story, our inspirations, and the experiences that shape every dram;
Connect with fellow whisky lovers — share stories, ask questions, and be part of the community that makes this tour so special;
Engage with our team — get first-hand insights into our craft, the places we visit, and the people we meet along the way.

Whether you’re a seasoned whisky enthusiast or just curious to explore, our events are designed to be informative, fun, and truly memorable. We’d love to raise a glass with you — come be part of the adventure!