A Whisky Education Weekender?

Make the most of your trip to Scotland with a back-to-back whisky education adventure. The next in-person Diploma in Single Malt Whisky (7 & 8 May at the spectacular Arniston House), is immediately followed by the Certificate in Sensory Appreciation (9 May at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Queen Street). Big thanks to Desmond from the Netherlands for inspiring this perfectly scheduled education weekender! Final spots remain for both courses.

Book both and save 20% – just reply to this email and we’ll send you a unique purchase link.

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The Islands Come to Shore: Hebridean Whisky Trail Announces Inaugural Oban Takeover

OBAN, SCOTLAND – The Hebridean Whisky Trail is set to make waves on the mainland this spring with the launch of its first-ever Hebridean Whisky Show. On Saturday, 25 April 2026, the trail journeys to Oban for a one-day takeover of the iconic MacGregor’s at the Whisky Vaults.

This inaugural showcase offers whisky enthusiasts a rare opportunity to experience the collective character of the Hebrides in a single location. Attendees can expect to experience exclusive tastings and expert-led masterclasses, enhanced with the much-loved live traditional music of MacGregor’s.

“We are thrilled to bring the spirits of the Hebrides to Oban,” said Cindy Campbell, Development Manager of the Hebridean Whisky Trail. “This show is designed to be a sensory bridge between the mainland and the islands, offering a preview of the wild and beautiful whisky adventure that awaits those who travel the trail itself.”

The April event serves as a prelude to the annual Hebridean Whisky Festival, which returns from 5–12 September 2026. Throughout the festival week, member distilleries will host a series of exclusive tours, warehouse tastings, and cultural events on their home soil. The celebrations will reach a crescendo on Saturday, 12 September, with the Festival Finale at the Isle of Raasay Distillery. The finale will unite all trail members for a grand celebration featuring a Q&A panel with the makers, rare drams, and live music.

Whether you are a seasoned connoisseur or a curious newcomer, the Hebridean Whisky Trail invites you to join them in 2026 for a journey through the landscapes, people, and spirits that define Scottish island life.

Tickets for the Hebridean Whisky Show in Oban are available now. For more information and to book your place, visit https://hebrideanwhiskytrail.com/show

• The Hebridean Whisky Trail is a collaboration between seven single malt Scotch whisky distilleries across the islands of Skye, Raasay, Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, and Tiree.
• Event Date (Oban): 12:00-17:00 Saturday, 25 April 2026, at MacGregor’s at the Whisky Vaults.
• Festival Dates: 5–12 September 2026, across the Hebrides.

Festival Finale: Saturday, 12 September 2026 at Isle of Raasay Distillery

Distillery Corner: Tamdhu

Join Kirsty & Vic discussing Tamdhu; a distillery that’s become a firm favourite for sherry cask lovers (and for Vic, who says “the whisky is just fantastic”). Matured exclusively in first-fill sherry casks, Tamdhu delivers sweet vanilla, dried fruits and rich depth.

It’s a brilliant example of how quality spirit and quality wood come together. Shoutout too to the excellent Distillery Manager, Sandy McIntyre, who’s always been on hand to help us with filming and fun site visits. Superb guy.

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The Whisky Loch: A Lesson in Cycles

You know the saying history doesn’t repeat itself but it rhymes? Recent talk of maturing stockpiles amid slowing demand has prompted comparisons with the infamous “Whisky Loch” of the 1980s… a time when Scottish warehouses were quite literally awash with spirit that nobody seemed to need or know what to do with.

In another thoughtful piece for our blog, Iain Russell revisits that turbulent period: how overconfidence in booming markets led to surplus, closures, corporate upheaval and some surprisingly cheap mature whisky. He asks what lessons can be learned from the familiar pattern we’re seeing today.

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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.

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

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

Saturday 11th April

Aberargie Distillery

Hosted by Thomas Cuthbert