Lord-Lieutenant of Lanarkshire presents Glencairn Crystal with

Kings Award for Enterprise for Innovation

The Lord-Lieutenant of Lanarkshire, Lady Haughey (Susan) CBE visited Glencairn Crystal Studio Ltd in East Kilbride (on 20 February 2026) to formally present the company with its trophy for the King’s Award for Enterprise.

One of only a select number of organisations across the UK to receive the honour, Glencairn Crystal was recognised for excellence in Innovation. This marks the fourth time the family-owned business has received this prestigious accolade.

Founded in 1981 and employing more than 70 people, Glencairn Crystal is a family-owned business specialising in premium crystal and glassware for both business and consumer markets, with unrivalled expertise in the spirits industry. The company is renowned internationally for pioneering design, exceptional craftsmanship and advanced production techniques, successfully scaling artisan processes for commercial manufacture.

For more than 20 years, Glencairn has also produced the iconic Glencairn Glass, the first glass designed specifically for whisky and now recognised worldwide as the industry’s official whisky glass.

The company previously received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation in 2006, and for International Trade in 2012 and 2017.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Lanarkshire, Lady Haughey (Susan) CBE said: “As the King’s personal representative in Lanarkshire, I was delighted to present the King’s Award for Enterprise – in the Innovation category – to Glencairn Crystal. To receive this prestigious award for the fourth time is a phenomenal achievement, highlighting consistent excellence in design, craftsmanship, and manufacturing, and reflecting the passion, creativity, and dedication of everyone at Glencairn Crystal.”

Scott Davidson, New Product Development Director at Glencairn Crystal, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this trophy for the King’s Award for Enterprise for Innovation. As a family-run business for over 40 years, innovation has been at the heart of everything we do and this award reflects the dedication and talent of our entire team. To be honoured once again is a proud moment for us all.”

The King’s Awards for Enterprise are the UK’s most prestigious awards for businesses, recognising and encouraging outstanding achievements in four categories: innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility. The awards are given out annually and are a highly regarded mark of excellence for British businesses.

The Award programme, now in its 59th year and previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed in 2023 to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses.

For more information about Glencairn Crystal, visit www.glencairn.com

For more information about The Kings Award for Enterprise, visit www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise

* 197 organisations nationally were recognised with a King’s Award for Enterprise and a total of 199 Awards were made with two companies being recognised with two Awards.

The 8th Annual Scottish Whisky Awards Are Now Open

Scotland’s national celebration of its greatest global export has returned.

Entries are now open for the 2026 Scottish Whisky Awards, recognising excellence across Scotland’s whisky industry and celebrating the producers, retailers and businesses that continue to drive the success of Scotch whisky around the world.

At the heart of the awards is a highly respected blind tasting competition, ensuring that every whisky is judged purely on its quality, character and craftsmanship by an expert panel of judges. Branding and distillery information are hidden during judging to guarantee a fair and impartial process.

Finalists will be announced in September 2026, with the winners revealed at a prestigious black-tie awards ceremony on Thursday 26 November 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Glasgow Central.

Check out our entry guide.

BEAR BURNING 2026
Saturday 9th May | 4pm – 9pm

Join us for an activity-filled evening of relaxed fun with friends, family and whisky lovers alike. Enjoy an arrival drink, live music from a variety of artists, a food truck, Orchard Talks with our local farmer and cider producer, Distillery Tours running every half an hour, and Highland Games in the Abbey Ruins.

This year we are also offering two additional ticketed activities – Warehouse Tastings and Whisky Creation Masterclasses – for those who want to make even more of the day. You can find full details on both below. As always, the evening will conclude with a Lindores dram and the lighting of the bear.

A few things to keep in mind before you join us:

Please prepare for a ‘Scottish Summer’ event; the weather can be wonderfully unpredictable, so come dressed for the occasion. The event is both indoors and outdoors, so appropriate footwear is a must if the ground is damp.

Unfortunately, we are unable to welcome dogs to this event, as much as we adore them. We simply don’t feel a busy evening like this would be enjoyable for our four-legged friends. Please also note this is a strictly over-18s event.

Book Your Tickets

The Structure of a Yeast Cell

For some reason, this blog post consistently does great numbers. Is it a saccharomyces cerevisiae sensation? Do we all just love a diagram? The jury is out. To further muddy the waters, we’ve added a video whereby Vic explains the role of yeast in the Scotch whisky production process.

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The Good Dram Show – Episode 628 ‘Brave New Spirits Whisky Heroes’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in whcich I’ll be taking a look at the latest batch of releases in Brave New Spirits Whisky Heroes range. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 628 – Manz An Illa & The Tale Of The Rouge Butt…! Filmed in The Study Nottingham. Filmed & Edited by Chris Goodrum

Featuring

Brave New Spirits ‘Whisky Heroes – Phantom of the Clock Tower’ Tormore 2010 (15 year old) 57.3%
Brave New Spirits ‘Whisky Heroes – Smoke Over The Craig’ Ardmillan Peated Lowland Blended Malt 2013 (12 year old) 59.8%
Brave New Spirits ‘Whisky Heroes – Showdown In The Green Valley’ Dailuaine 2010 (15 year old) 55.5%
Brave New Spirits ‘Whisky Heroes – The Malt Marauder’ Glen Moray 2014 (11 year old) 53.3%
Brave New Spirits ‘Whisky Heroes – Captain Shug & The Second Sight’ Teaninich 2012 (13 year old) 51.9%
Brave New Spirits ‘Whisky Heroes – Widow’s Cove’ Coal Ila 2014 (11 year old) 50.4%

www.bravenewspirits.com/whiskies/whiskyheroes

Disclaimer The views, thoughts, or opinions expressed during this episode are solely those of the individual involved (me) and do not represent those of my employer. 

Ardbeg House awarded The Times and The Sunday Times Best Places to Stay 2026 winner in the UK and Scotland 

Ardbeg House, the recently opened world-class whisky and hospitality experience on Islay, has been named the best place to stay in the UK and Scotland by The Times and The Sunday Times.

Nestled on the shores of the picturesque village of Port Ellen, just a stone’s throw from Ardbeg Distillery, the boutique hotel has been awarded overall winner of the prestigious list only six months after opening, topping the definitive guide to the 50 Best Places to Stay from across the UK and Scotland

The judges praised the hotel as “a whisky wonderland, with playful, maximalist interiors; and a convivial, well-stocked bar that’s priced for locals.”

They also applauded the rooms and suites, as well as the food and drink, receiving an impressive 9/10 score, praising the “eye-popping interiors” and “playful, personality-packed” hotel rooms.

Ardbeg House opened its doors to the public in September 2025, and was designed in collaboration with interior storymakers Russell Sage Studio to celebrate the best of Islay. The boutique hotel, which offers 12 unique rooms, is complemented by handcrafted pieces from more than 20 Scottish and Islay artisans to blend Ardbeg’s signature smoky character with the island’s warmth, creativity and community.

Ellie Goss, Comms and Hospitality Director at Ardbeg, said: “We’re incredibly honoured to top such a prestigious list, especially so quickly after the opening of Ardbeg House.

“Every element of the luxury hotel has been crafted to immerse visitors to the island and its community in local stories and Ardbeggian rituals, while also offering the chance to experience some very exclusive whiskies.

“This recognition marks a major milestone for Ardbeg House, cementing its place as one of the most exciting new destinations in the UK.”

For more information on Ardbeg House, please visit: www.ardbeghouse.com

The Times and The Sunday Times, Best Places to Stay

www.ardbeg.com

www.ardbeghouse.com

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Ardbeg House

Ardbeg House is a world-class whisky and hospitality experience on Islay, which offers the island’s visitors an extraordinary opportunity to eat, sleep and drink Ardbeg. Situated in the bustling town of Port Ellen, this 12-bedroom boutique hotel blends the ultimate in Scottish hospitality with the flavours and legends of Ardbeg’s island world. Visitors and locals are welcomed to enjoy the best of Scottish food and drink at the House’s Signature restaurant and the Islay Bar, including exclusive Ardbeg drams.

To book, go to www.ardbeghouse.com

Russell Sage Studio

Russell Sage Studio, established in 2005, comprises a thriving team of dedicated interior designers, FF&E designers, planners, restorers and art and antiques experts. Since inception, the studio has built a reputation for creating unique interior stories for five-star hotels, exclusive members’ clubs, premium restaurants, luxury bars and private residences around the world.

About Ardbeg

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future, and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well-established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following. Today, Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies.

The Wait is Over

Two highly sought-after releases from Chichibu have just landed back in stock – and as always, availability is extremely limited.

Chichibu 10 Year Old

The highly sought-after Chichibu 10 Year Old is a landmark age statement from one of Japan’s most celebrated distilleries. Matured for a full decade, it offers a beautifully layered profile of orchard fruit, honey, gentle spice, and a long, refined finish.​

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Chichibu London Edition 2025

The latest in this coveted series. Crafted from a vatting of 10 casks and limited to just 1,920 bottles, it delivers vibrant citrus, rich chocolate, warming spice, and a subtle touch of smoke.

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