Winner and runner-up announced in this year’s

Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition

The Glencairn Glass, the official glass for whisky, has announced the winner and runner-up of its annual Crime Short Story Competition, held in partnership with the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival.

Following another year of outstanding entries from aspiring and established crime writers around the world, Kathy Schilbach – also writing under the name Kate Finnemore – has been named the overall winner for her dark and disturbing story, Making Friends. Ross Alexander was selected as runner-up for his compelling story, Life Wasted.

Kathy receives the £1,000 first prize and a guest appearance at the Bloody Scotland Festival in September. Ross receives £500, and both winning stories will be published on the Bloody Scotland and Glencairn Glass (whiskyglass.com) websites.

Produced by the award-winning Scottish family glassware company Glencairn Crystal, the Glencairn Glass has celebrated and supported the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival since 2020 with its Glencairn Glass sponsorship of both the McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year and the Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year awards. 

Winner: Making Friends by Kathy Schilbach

A disturbing tale about a mysterious and anxious woman who has a dark secret to keep.

Kathy Schilbach lived in France for over 30 years, where she taught English in a lycée in the small historic town of Chinon. She loves to read crime and historical novels and had always wanted to write. Retirement from teaching gave her the time and opportunity she needed – she now lives in West Sussex and under her pen name, Kate Finnemore, has had short stories and pocket novels published as well as achieving success in several writing competitions.

Kathy said: “I’m absolutely thrilled that my story has been chosen as the winner of the Glencairn Glass Crime Story Competition. Winning this prize in what is nowadays a difficult, crowded market has given me an amazing feeling of achievement. Thank you to everyone at Glencairn for running such a great competition. I had a certain real-life murderer in mind when I started to write. She was just a name from history though, a starting point in the process of writing.”

Runner-up:  Life Wasted by Ross Alexander

A gripping confession from an unlikely vigilante who took justice into his own hands to free a woman from her abusive, alcoholic husband. 

Ross Alexander is a Scottish author based in East Lothian who writes crime thriller novels and short stories. He has had several short stories published by Darkstroke Books and his short story ‘Deadly Night Shades’ featured in the first edition of the Tangled Web/Aspiring Fiction magazine, a publication specialising in Tartan Noir. He has also written a number of novels, including five in his DI Joanne Christie series, set in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

Ross said: “I was thrilled to hear that I had been selected as the runner up in this year’s Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition. To be recognised by a panel of judges made up of crime fiction enthusiasts is very humbling. The Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival is close to my heart, which makes this award so very special.”

Since its launch in 2021, the Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition has attracted hundreds of entries from around the globe and has helped launch the careers of several emerging writers.

Among its success stories are Frances Crawford, winner in 2022/23, who has since signed a two-book deal with Penguin – her first novel was published earlier this year. Allan Gaw, runner-up in 2022/23, went on to win the 2024 Bloody Scotland Debut Novel Prize and secure a four-book publishing deal with Polygon.

For the first time, this year’s entries were judged by a panel comprising six of the UK’s leading crime book influencers alongside Kirsty Nicholson, Marketing Director at Glencairn Crystal. The criteria was that the protagonist must be from Scotland.

Kirsty Nicholson said: “Each year we are amazed by the quality and originality of the entries we receive, and 2026 was no exception. Kathy’s story stood out for its atmospheric storytelling and psychological tension, while Ross’s entry impressed the judges with its strong narrative voice and engaging execution. We are delighted to celebrate both writers and continue supporting emerging talent within the crime-writing community.”

Bloody Scotland Festival Director Bob McDevitt said: The standard of entries this year was exceptionally high, making the judging process both challenging and rewarding. Congratulations to Kathy and Ross on their well-deserved success, and thank you to everyone who entered and helped make this another fantastic year for the competition.”

The winning stories can be read online at whiskyglass.com and the Bloody Scotland website.

For further information about Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival please contact fiona@brownleedonald.com

*2026 Judges:

Kevin Woolard: Book blogger and owner of The First Eleven Minutes, an award-winning Bookstagram account.

Mary Picken: Book blogger and crime fiction critic at Live and Deadly.

Noelle Holten:  Award-winning blogger at Crime Book Junkie and crime-writer.

Sharon Bairden:  Scottish author and book blogger at Chapter In My Life with a focus on Scottish crime fiction.

Lynsey Adams: Crime noir fiction blogger at There’s Been a Murder, as well as Reading Between the Lines Book PR.

Suze Clarke-Morris: Book blogger at Suze Reviews with a focus on crime fiction.

About the Glencairn Glass:

The Glencairn Glass, produced by the Scottish family company Glencairn Crystal, is recognised as the world’s official whisky glass. This year the glass celebrates its 25^th birthday and the company now sell over 5 million glasses across international markets each year, with over 50 million glasses sold in total to date. The competition winner and runner up will also receive a set of six bespoke engraved Glencairn Glasses.

About Bloody Scotland:

Bloody Scotland is Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival, providing a showcase for the best crime writing from Scotland and the world, unique in that it was set up by a group of Scottish crime writers – Lin Anderson, Alex Gray, Craig Robertson and Gordon Brown – in 2012. Full information at bloodyscotland.com

The Bloody Scotland Prize for Scottish Crime Writing first awarded in 2012 was renamed The McIlvanney Prize in 2016. The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize was launched in 2019.

JULY 2026 AUCTION ENDS SOON!

With the auction drawing to a close, this historic Lagavulin is well worth a final look. Released in 1982, this 12-year-old formed part of the pioneering Ascot Malt Cellar series, alongside Linkwood, Rosebank, Talisker and the blended malts Strathconon and Glenleven. Widely regarded as the precursor to the iconic Classic Malts range, the series laid the foundations for one of Scotch whisky’s most celebrated collections, with the 12-year-old later giving way to the now-famous 16-year-old expression. As the first official bottling ever released by the distillery, this is a landmark whisky in Lagavulin’s history.

The end of an era, captured in a bottle! Filled on 16th March 1983, Cask #327 was the final cask laid down before the legendary Speyside distillery Dallas Dhu ceased production for good. This highly sought-after release was commissioned by Historic Scotland (now Historic Environment Scotland) to commemorate the distillery’s rich heritage. While it carries no official age statement, it is widely believed to have been bottled in the mid-to-late 2000s at around 23 years of age. A remarkable bottling that preserves the final chapter of one of Speyside’s most iconic lost (but not forgotten) distilleries.

A standout release from the celebrated Manager’s Dram series, this Blair Athol was selected exclusively for employees across what is now Diageo’s portfolio of distilleries. Each annual bottling was chosen by the distillery manager, who hand-picked the finest casks to create a limited-edition whisky bottled at natural cask strength. Distilled at Blair Athol and matured for 15 years, this exceptional expression was bottled at natural cask strength in 1996. It remains one of the most sought-after releases in the iconic Manager’s Dram collection.

Following on from the previous Manager’s Dram, this Lagavulin edition is another outstanding example of the celebrated series. Distilled at Lagavulin, matured for 11 years, and bottled at natural cask strength in 2013, it showcases the unmistakable character of one of Islay’s most revered distilleries. This exclusive, official bottling is a fantastic opportunity to secure a distinctive chapter in Lagavulin’s modern history.

Two big events. One Sunday evening. Our July Auction closes from 8pm BST on Sunday, 19th July – the very same time the World Cup Final kicks off. Beat the rush by placing your bids early or leaving your maximum bids in advance at www.clickwhiskyauctions.com, then sit back and enjoy the match knowing your favourite lots are still in play!

SPRINGBANK 12 CASK STRENGTH

56.6% ABV

NOSE
A vibrant introduction, there are notes of marzipan, white chocolate raspberries, marmalade and heather honey, with a leather note in the background.

PALATE
There is a richness on the palate in notes of treacle, brambles and blackcurrants, balanced with hints of nutmeg and dark chocolate.

FINISH
An ashy note appears in the finish, along with gooseberries, salted pretzels and cayenne pepper.

UK RRP £70 – £72

Five Years in Scotch Whisky

One year later, this article feels just as relevant. Originally published in June 2025, Richard Woodard’s deep dive into the last five years of change in Scotch whisky explored everything from COVID disruption and trade tensions to new distilleries and emerging global markets. Now, with another year behind us, it’s worth asking: what’s changed?

📚 Read the Post

FOCUS ON
JAPANESE WHISKY

From rare releases to distinctive expressions, there’s something for every Japanese whisky collector. Build your collection with exceptional bottles that don’t come around often. Get your bids in now.

WATCH OUR LIVE AUCTION

Our second outrun of 2026 is here

Our latest Lady of the Glen outrun features nine exceptional single cask whiskies from across Scotland, celebrating the diversity and character of independent bottling. This release combines sought-after distilleries, innovative wine cask maturations and several exceptionally limited bottlings.

Highlights include a beautifully waxy Clynelish 12-year-old, a richly textured Benrinnes matured in an ex-Cypriot white wine cask, and our first widely available Inchdairnie Finglassie. We’re also delighted to welcome Lindores Abbey to the Lady of the Glen range for the first time.

The collection is completed by a rare 30-year-old North British single grain whisky, bottled in support of local charity Big Hearts. As always, every cask has been hand-selected and bottled by our team in Dalgety Bay, with each release individually numbered and available in strictly limited quantities.

Please note that in order to better support our retail partners this outrun and future outruns is not being sold through our website. Links to stockists can be found via the tab on our homepage.

Outrun 2 2026

Below are some selected highlights from our new outrun.
There are 9 bottlings in this outrun,you can check them all out here.
Find out where to buy here.

Clynelish 2013 – Hogshead 

DISTILLED 9th September 2013 AND BOTTLED 11th March 2026. From Scotland’s north-east corner comes a spirit famed for its fruity, waxy character with hints of smoke. Fully matured in a hogshead bringing forward refined notes of banana and vanilla.

One of Diageo’s famous “Four Corners of Scotland” distilleries and highly sought after for it’s rare waxy new-make. Therefore we are beyond delighted to offer this bottling to you. Fully matured in its original hogshead allowing this beautiful spirit to shine.

The tasting revealed Heather honey, orange blossom and dried banana.

Lindores Abbey 2019 – Bourbon Barrel

DISTILLED 1st August 2019 AND BOTTLED 2nd April 2026. Located in Newburgh, Fife and recognised for producing a fruity spirit with oily texture and medium body. Fully matured in a first fill bourbon barrel for layers of vanilla, honey and toffee.

Another one ticked off our list of distilleries we had still to bottle and another local site too. Potentially the site of the beginning of the distillation of Scotch, the distillers are focussing on a traditional style of spirit. We are honouring that focus by showcasing the very well made light and fruity make paired with a fresh bourbon barrel allowing the spirit to shine. The tasting revealed pineapple, toasted marshmallow and dried orange peel.

Glen Spey 2014 – Pineau Des Charentes

Glenlossie 2013 – Refill Palo Cortado

Inchgower 2014 – Madeira Cask

Inchdairnie (Finglassie) – Refill Madeira Qtr Cask

Our 2026 Isle of Harris Single Malt Private Cask Offer is now open.

For this release, we are offering a limited number of fresh Kentucky bourbon casks, used for the first time to mature our new-make spirit. These casks bring a wonderful influence to the flavour and colour of the whisky over time.

Each cask includes ten years of storage and insurance, with owners receiving samples at 4, 7 and 10 years of maturation before deciding when the whisky is ready to bottle. When that time comes, your whisky will be bottled at the distillery with a personalised label unique to your cask.

Each cask is priced at £6,000, with a £3,000 deposit securing your allocation before filling. It’s a rare opportunity to own and shape a part of the Isle of Harris whisky story in a very personal way.

For the full offer brochure and all the details, please email yourprivatecask@harrisdistillery.com

EMAIL FOR MORE INFO

Scotland’s stay at the World Cup already seems like a distant memory, but you can still raise a glass during the final and start to dream about 2030! If you had your eye on one of these half-size belters, best get going – they’ll only be around until Sunday.

READ MORE

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

ralfy review 1137 – Brora 30yo 2010 @54.3%vol: (Re-review 2026)