Glen Scotia unveils bold new limited-edition whisky for Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026

Multi-award award winning Campbeltown distillery Glen Scotia has revealed its anticipated, limited-edition single malt in celebration of the renowned Campbeltown Malts Festival which draws whisky lovers from around the world to visit the region each May.

Glen Scotia’s annual festival bottlings have built a reputation for bold, intriguing flavours and the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 release continues this tradition. Aged for seven years, this medium-peated single malt was matured in first-fill bourbon barrels before being finished for six months in ruby port casks, creating a whisky that balances vibrancy, depth and an unmistakable coastal character.

The distinctive dual cask maturation has resulted in big flavours of ripe red fruit, gentle sweet peat and warming spice, carried on a rich, coastal undertone that reflects Glen Scotia’s maritime trade history.

Once known as the ‘Victorian whisky capital of the world’, Campbeltown is a place steeped in rich whisky heritage. Hailing from what is now Scotland’s smallest whisky-producing region, Glen Scotia’s small team preserves traditional methods, using small stills to create big Campbeltown flavours and making big waves at big international awards.

The Campbeltown Malts Festival is a flagship event in Glen Scotia’s calendar, welcoming thousands of visitors each year to experience the distillery’s big Campbeltown character and the warmth and generosity of the ‘Wee Toon’. The 2026 festival edition celebrates not only the whisky itself, but also the people who define the town’s resilient character.

Presented in a premium navy blue box, the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 Release also features a unique on-pack experience. By scanning a QR code on the box, whisky fans can step inside the distillery and meet members of the Glen Scotia team whose craft, passion and pride bring to life its big Campbeltown character.

Available to purchase online and in specialist retailers globally, Glen Scotia’s Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 release is non-chill filtered, bottled at cask strength (53.9% ABV) and will retail for £59.

Ashley Smith, master blender at Glen Scotia, said: “This year’s Festival Release is a true celebration of Glen Scotia’s big Campbeltown character. It offers Glen Scotia’s distinctive maritime salinity, which is complemented with layers of gentle peat, and vibrant red fruit and warming spice brought by the ruby port cask finish. It’s a whisky that evolves on the palate and brings an element of surprise.

“The Campbeltown Malts Festival is always a special time for us, when the town comes alive with visitors from around the world. With this year’s on-pack experience, we’re giving people a glimpse inside the distillery in our remote corner of Scotland and the people whose passion shapes every drop.

“Campbeltown may be small, but it has a big personality and a proud heritage. This year’s festival bottling is our way of capturing that spirit in the glass for our community to enjoy.”

Glen Scotia’s Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 events (19 and 20 May) will explore the distillery’s rich whisky-making heritage. A selection of ticketed and free events will delve into the town’s storied past, offering visitors the chance to explore and learn about some of Glen Scotia’s finest drams.

Guests at this year’s festival will get a taste of Glen Scotia’s character through a range of workshops including ‘Big Campbeltown Character’, which will explore the tropical fruit, coastal notes and oily texture of the new Glen Scotia 12 Year Old with Loch Lomond Group’s master blender Michael Henry.

A ‘Deconstructed Festival Release 2026’ tasting will see Glen Scotia brand ambassador Gary Mills reveal the craftsmanship behind this year’s limited-edition release, and ‘Port to Port’ will trace Campbeltown’s maritime past with Glen Scotia’s master blender Ashley Smith, showing how sherry, rum and wine casks continue to shape Glen Scotia’s style.

For further information on the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 release or this year’s festival, visit www.glenscotia.com/ .

Tasting notes:

Nose: Opens with sweet peat, ripe red cherry and creamy vanilla fudge.

Palette: Bursting with juicy mandarin before indulgent blackcurrant jam and layers of rich smoky embers.

Finish: Warming cinnamon and close spice, coastal salinity and lingering peat smoke.

About Glen Scotia

Distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832 and is one of three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown.

Producing peated and non-peated whiskies, the distillery still maintains much of its original design, including the stillroom and the dunnage warehouse dating from the 1830s. To this day, the distillery team follow in the footsteps of their founders, using traditional methods, carefully creating the subtly maritime Campbeltown style the brand has become world-famous for.

Recognition of Glen Scotia’s style and craftsmanship continues to be acknowledged globally.

• In 2021, Glen Scotia’s 25-Year-Old single malt was awarded ‘Best In Show Whisky’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Over 3,800 entries across thirty-one categories were judged with Glen Scotia being awarded the overall winner across all countries and styles. Only seven months later, Glen Scotia was also named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021.
• In 2022, Glen Scotia’s Victoriana won ‘Best In Class’ in the Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – No Age Statement category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• In 2023, Glen Scotia won ‘Best Single Cask Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards for a single cask bottling distilled in 2009 and aged for 13 years exclusively in a first-fill bourbon barrel.
• Later that same year, Glen Scotia’s 25-Year-Old won a coveted Platinum award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023, which is awarded to the very few entries that receive a Double Gold medal for three consecutive years at the prestigious global event.
• In 2024, Glen Scotia received a number of prestigious awards across its range of single malt whiskies, including Platinum titles at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2024 for both Glen Scotia Victoriana and Glen Scotia 25 Year Old.
• In 2025, Glen Scotia was awarded several notable industry awards across its core range whiskies including Glen Scotia Double Cask Rum being named the best Campbeltown non-age statement whisky, as well as winning platinum accolades for Glen Scotia 15 and 25 Year Old, and gold for Glen Scotia Victoriana at the San Fransico World Spirits Competition 2025.
• That same year, Glen Scotia 15 Year Old was also awarded gold at the International World Spirits Competition.

Independent Retailer Launches 50ml Dram Service to Help Drinkers “Test Drive” Whisky Before Buying

A small independent UK whisky retailer has launched a service designed to help whisky drinkers explore new bottles without committing to the cost of a full bottle purchase.

WhiskyGenie has introduced a curated range of 50ml whisky drams, allowing customers to sample whiskies at home before deciding whether to invest in a full bottle.

While many whisky samples are typically sold in 30ml measures, WhiskyGenie has chosen to offer larger 50ml “proper drams”, giving drinkers a more generous tasting experience.

The concept is aimed at whisky enthusiasts who want to explore different styles, cask finishes and distilleries without the financial risk that often comes with purchasing unfamiliar bottles.

Founder Garry Grimshaw, who has more than three decades of hospitality experience, says the idea came from seeing customers hesitate when faced with buying full bottles they had never tasted before.

“A lot of people want to try different whiskies but don’t want to risk spending £50–£100 on a bottle they might not enjoy,” he explained.

“The idea behind WhiskyGenie is simple — let people try a proper dram first and discover what they actually like.”

The online retailer offers a wide range of Scotch whisky drams, including expressions from well-known distilleries such as Ardbeg, Glenmorangie and Bruichladdich.

Orders also include a complimentary mystery dram, allowing customers to discover an additional whisky they may not have otherwise tried.

The service reflects a growing trend among whisky drinkers who are increasingly interested in exploring a wider range of expressions and cask styles without committing to full bottle purchases.

WhiskyGenie currently ships across the UK and internationally, with a focus on making whisky discovery accessible to both new drinkers and seasoned enthusiasts.

More information can be found at:

www.whiskygenie.com

Glendronach 15 Year Old “Sherry Cask Matured” Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml) $99.99 View

The newly redesigned Glendronach 15 year marks the beginning of a new era at the Glendronach distillery. No longer is the 15 year a triumphant revival of a lost label, but now it’s the core malt in one of Scotland’s most well regarded distillers. It remains exclusively filled into Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía in Glendronach’s old dark dunnage warehouses located outside of the small eastern highland town of Huntley. Tasting notes from teh distiller, “Color: Antique copper with a golden hue. Aroma: An intoxicating burst of maraschino cherry, ripe bramble and dark chocolate mint with hints of orange bitters and walnut liqueur. Palate: Honey-glazed apricot and ripe fig with a crescendo of black cherry, angelica, and muscovado.”

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

The Victoria Highland Games Association is once again pleased to present “The Whisky Tasting School” on May 16th and 17th, 2026 at the 163rd Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival at Topaz Park.

All sessions will feature single malt whiskies presented by ambassadors representing a variety of Scotch, American, Japanese and Canadian whiskies. The registration fee is $53.00 ( Charcuterie and Whisky pairing session $63.00 ) and includes a one-day field entry (value $20).

Guests must be aged 19 years or older to attend! All tickets are non-refundable. Attendees more that 10 minutes late for a class may be denied entry. Each session has limited seating; in previous years all sessions have sold out prior to the Games so don’t be late in registering!

Details of the 9 sessions may be seen HERE

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show, in which I’ll be taking a look at the Irish Blended Whiskey Tullamore DEW. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum. Episode 626 – Who Fancies A Bit of Irish..?! Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Featuring

Tullamore DEW Original Blend 40%
Tullamore DEW Cider Cask Finish 40%
Tullamore DEW Caribbean Rum Cask Finish 43%
Tullamore DEW 12 year old Special Reserve 40%
Tullamore DEW Trilogy 15 year old 40%
Tullamore DEW Celebratory Phoenix 55%

www.tullamoredew.com

Sherry Meets Scotch!

As part of this year’s Spirit of Speyside, we’re bringing something truly special to Dallas Dhu Distillery…

Let’s Talk Sherry.

Join Dean Jode, Murray McDavid’s Head of Whisky Creations, and Edward Odim, Dallas Dhu Distillery’s Project Manager, as we welcome José and Laura of Bodegas Ximénez-Spínola — ninth-generation Sherry producers from Jerez — for a rare and insightful tasting experience.

Together, we’ll explore the Art of Maturation, uncovering how exceptional Sherry casks influence the flavour, aroma and character of Scotch whisky.

On the day, you’ll enjoy:

• 4 Murray McDavid drams
• 4 premium Ximénez-Spínola Sherries
• First-hand insight from the people behind the casks

🍷 Let’s talk Sherry with Bodegas Ximénez-Spínola

Sunday 3 May | 11:00am-1:00pm

BOOK NOW

This is a unique opportunity to experience Sherry and Scotch side by side — guided by the experts who craft them.

Driver’s Drams are available to pre-order if required.

Spaces are limited 🎟️

We look forward to welcoming you to a Sherry masterclass like no other 🍷

Slàinte,

The Murray McDavid Team

Our March 2026 Auction ENDS TONIGHT!

Place your bids until 7pm (GMT) Sunday 22nd MARCH 2026.

www.whiskyhammer.com

Every month, we present an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits to our members right across the globe. You will find everything here from limited edition releases and vintage bottles to whole casks of rare whisky. There is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest or enjoy!

Macallan – 52 Year Old (1946) Select Reserve

Highland Park – 42 Year Old (1967) John Scott’s

Glen Ord – 1969 (Celebratory Whisky) 25th Anniversary Maltings (75cl)

Karuizawa – 1994 (Single Cask #2221) Ichiro’s Choice

Selling whisky? Why not arrange the pick-up of your bottles using our global courier service? If you’re based in Scotland, you might want to arrange the personal collection of your bottles. Wherever you’re based in the world, we will make getting your bottles into our monthly auction as simple as possible. Get in touch with the Whisky Hammer team now by dropping them a message at sales@whiskyhammer.com.

Iron Gate Auctions in Canada

March 23 – 30, 2026

https://bid.irongateauctions.com/

Iron Gate is hosting its second Spirits Auction of the year, offering yet another impressive selection of fine spirits. The catalogue includes bespoke whiskies from closed distilleries like Karuizawa, Port Ellen, Brora, and Ladyburn. More than 20 cases (6 identical bottles/lot) of Scotch whisky ready for your next club gathering.  Auction starts Monday March 23rd and ends a week later March 30^th.

If outside Canada, contact Ajay Bhardwaj, Vice-President of Spirits at Iron Gate to see how you can participate in the upcoming auction. ajay@irongate.wine

The Society’s new Creators Collection, The New Wave: A taste of our next generation gems isn’t just about what Scotch whisky is, it’s about where it’s going.  We’ve brought together five of Scotland’s most exciting modern producers – each with its own sense of place and character to create the ultimate flight in New Wave whiskies.

What’s more, you can now pick up individual bottles from this collection. This is a real ‘you won’t find these anywhere else’ moment with limited quantities of each bottle available, so get them while you can.

BUY COLLECTION

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

Rock Town Distillery Announces Inaugural Winners Circle 2026 Bourbon Release

Little Rock, AR — Rock Town Distillery announces the release of Winners Circle 2026, the first bottling in a new annual limited-edition bourbon series that celebrates craftsmanship, racing tradition, and original Arkansas artistry.

Distilled from Arkansas corn, Arkansas wheat, and malted barley and aged six years, Winners Circle is bottled at 101 proof in tribute to the home stretch, a nod to both the intensity of racing and the patience required to craft exceptional bourbon.

This inaugural release marks the beginning of an annual series celebrating racing through commissioned artwork by local artists, with each year’s label and bottling created once and never repeated.

The first release features original artwork by Arkansas artist Michael Shaeffer, whose expressive watercolor style brings movement and emotion to the label. Shaeffer, who is based in Little Rock and attended high school in Hot Springs, draws from a deep personal connection to Arkansas’ horse racing culture, particularly the legacy of Oaklawn Racing in Hot Springs.

“We wanted this series to feel rooted in place and time,” said Phil Brandon, Founder and Head Distiller of Rock Town Distillery. “Shaeffer’s work captures the motion, discipline, and anticipation that exist both in racing and in bourbon making. Pairing his art with this first release felt like the right way to set the tone for what Winners Circle will become.”

Availability

Winners Circle 2026 will be available in limited quantities beginning the week of March 23 at the Rock Town Distillery tasting room and select Arkansas and Oklahoma liquor stores. Once this release is gone, it will not be reproduced.

Release Events

To celebrate the launch of the Winners Circle series, Rock Town Distillery will host two ticketed events inspired by racing season and Kentucky Derby tradition.

On Thursday, March 26 from 4:30–7:00 PM, Rock Town will host an exclusive happy hour release party at M2 Gallery in Little Rock. The gallery was selected intentionally, as it is where Michael Shaeffer works and regularly exhibits his artwork, and it sits directly across the street from the distillery. The space creates a natural extension of the collaboration, allowing guests to experience the artwork in its home setting while celebrating the bourbon it inspired.

Tickets for the event will go on sale March 10th. Guests will enjoy Mint Juleps, Old Fashioneds, and Whiskey Sours alongside light Derby-inspired fare. When purchasing tickets, attendees will have the option to preorder up to two bottles of Winners Circle 2026, as well as preorder limited-edition prints of the original label artwork by Michael Shaeffer.

Rock Town will also host a ticketed Barrel House Kentucky Derby Watch Party on Saturday, May 2 from 5:00–9:00 PM at the distillery. Guests will gather to watch the Kentucky Derby, often referred to as “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” while enjoying a limited Derby cocktail menu. Tickets include two complimentary cocktails, with Mint Juleps, Old Fashioneds, and Whiskey Sours featured throughout the celebration. A Kentucky Derby-inspired buffet will be served, and prizes will be awarded for Best Hat and Best Dressed. Attendees will also have the option to add a bottle of Winners Circle 2026 to their ticket purchase as well as prints of the original label artwork by Michael Shaeffer..

With its commissioned artwork and limited production, Winners Circle 2026 is a one-of-a-kind collectible, created for this moment and never again. Future releases in the series will continue annually, each featuring new artwork and its own distinct identity.

For additional information, interview requests, or images, please contact our head of marketing, Abbey Rolfe at abbey@rocktowndistillery.com.

About Rock Town Distillery

Founded in 2010, Rock Town Distillery is Arkansas’ first legal distillery since Prohibition. Known for its grain-to-glass philosophy and commitment to intentional production, Rock Town creates spirits that reflect both place and process.

About Michael Shaeffer

Michael Shaeffer is an Arkansas-based artist whose watercolor work explores movement, memory, and narrative. With roots in both Little Rock and Hot Springs, Shaeffer’s work often draws from Arkansas’ cultural landscape, making his contribution to Winners Circle 2026 a natural extension of the series’ vision.