The finalists for the 8th Annual Scottish Whisky Awards have been revealed, with 41 distillers and companies and more than 130 Scotch whiskies selected following an intensive judging process.
The 2026 finalists represent an impressive cross-section of Scotland’s world-renowned whisky industry, recognising excellence across both business and taste categories and celebrating the people, producers and products helping to shape the Scotch whisky industry.
The Scottish Whisky Awards provide a platform for the industry to come together, celebrate its achievements and promote Scotland’s most iconic global product. This year’s finalists once again showcase the strength, quality and diversity of the sector, which continues to play a significant role in Scotland’s international reputation for excellence.
Among this year’s most highly anticipated awards is Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year, sponsored by Howden.
Six outstanding distilleries have been selected to compete for the coveted title, recognising exceptional performance, innovation and achievement within the Scotch whisky industry. The winner will be revealed alongside the recipients of this year’s business and taste awards at the official awards celebration in November.
Across the taste competition, more than 130 Scotch whiskies have earned a place among the 2026 finalists following a rigorous judging process. The extensive line-up reflects the breadth of whisky being produced across Scotland, from established names to emerging producers and an exciting range of styles, ages and expressions.
The winners of the 8th Annual Scottish Whisky Awards will be announced on Thursday 26 November 2026 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central, when finalists, judges, sponsors and leading figures from across the industry will gather for one of the highlights of the Scotch whisky calendar.
The event will also raise funds for The BEN, a charity providing financial, social and emotional support to people who have worked, or currently work, within Scotland’s drinks, hospitality and licensed trade.
The countdown is now on to Thursday 26 November, when this year’s winners will be revealed in Glasgow.
Tickets for the awards dinner are available HERE
The Finalists in Full:
Business Competition
Newcomer of the Year
Aberargie Distillery
D&M Winchester
Independent Bottler of the Year - Sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons
Brave New Spirits
DOUGLAS LAING &CO
Feguson Whisky
One Cask at a Time
Saltire Rare Malt
Product Launch of the Year
Aberargie Distillery - Aberargie Inaugural Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Local Heros Whisky Collection from The Distillery at Coleburn
- Local Heros Collection
Ferguson Whisky - Lochindaal 18 Year Old
Little Brown Dog Spirits - Aberdeenshire Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Tourism Destination of the Year
Ardnahoe Distillery
Eden Mill St Andrews Distillery
Falkirk Distillery
Jackton Distillery
Excellence in Branding - Sponsored by Macfarlane Labels
The Cabrach Distillery
Local Heros Whisky Collection from The Distillery at Coleburn
Dornoch Distillery
DRAM5
Ferguson Whisky
National Trust for Scotland
Saltire Rare Malt
Scotch Whisky Retailer of the Year
The Good Spirits Co., Glasgow
Robertsons of Pitlochry
Royal Mile Whiskies, Edinburgh
Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year - Sponsored by Howden
Ardnahoe Distillery
Borders Distillery
Cabrach Distillery
Dornoch Distillery
Glenmorangie Distillery
Loch Lomond Distillery
Dr Jim Swan Award
Winner to be announced in October
Taste Competition
Blended Scotch
Borders Distillery - Right as Rain
Brave New Spirits - Lighthouse Blended Scotch - Lightly Peated
CVH Spirits - Black Bottle Original
CVH Spirits - Black Bottle 10
Dornoch Distillery Company - Thompson Bros TB/BSW Blended Scotch Whisky, 9 Year Old, The Final Release
InchDairnie Whisky - Islay Mist Original Blend
InchDairnie Whisky - Lauder’s Blended Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond Signature
Blended Malt Scotch
The Cabrach Distillery - The Feering - Late Crop
Local Heros Whisky Collection from The Distillery at Coleburn - Local Heros - Big Smoke
Local Heros Whisky Collection from The Distillery at Coleburn - Local Heros - Sherry Bomb
Dornoch Distillery Company - Thompson Bros North Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 8 Year Old- 2025 Batch
Fruitful Spirits – Fruitful Spirits enviable
Old Perth - Old Perth Pedro Ximenez
Single Cask Scotch 12 and Under - Sponsored by Distillery Supplies
Annandale Distillery - Man O’ Words Double Oaked ex-Bourbon 2018 Cask 301
Annandale Distillery - Man O’ Words Double Oaked ex-Bourbon 2018 Cask 513
Brave New Spirits - Cask Masters Croftengea 10 Years Old
Brave New Spirits - WhiskyHeroes Widow’s Cove Caol Ila 11 Years Old
Brave New Spirits – Cask Masters Laphroaig 10Yo
DOUGLAS LAING & CO - Old Particular Glengoyne 12 Years Old - Monbazillac Wine Cask
Speyside Distillers Co - SPEY 8-years-old TWS Exclusive
Single Cask Scotch 13 and Over - Sponsored by Hillebrand Gori
Brave New Spirits - WhiskyHeroes “Captain Shug and the Second Sight” Teaninich 13 Years Old
Dornoch Distillery Company - Thompson Bros Caol Ila Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 2010, 16 Year Old– Godzilla
Fruitful Spirits – Fruitful Spirits 21 Year Old Highland Park
Own Label Company Scotland - 3.01 Edition Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Saltire Rare Malt - Saltire Rare Malt, Aultmore #301239 - American Oak Barrique, 15 years old
Saltire Rare Malt - Saltire Rare Malt, Caol Ila #313181 - Refill American Oak Ex Bourbon, 17 years old
Saltire Rare Malt - Saltire Rare Malt ¸Tamnavulin #1008 -2nd Fill European Oak HHD – Ex Oloroso, 17 years old
Whisky Craft - Auchentoshan 20 Year Old
Whisky Craft - Bowmore22 Yo Single Cask
Single Grain & Blended Grain Scotch – Sponsored by Glencairn Crystal
Brave New Spirits - Cask Masters Cameronbridge 15 Years Old
Brave New Spirits - Whisky of Voodoo “Coven of The Red Veil” 14 Years Old
Dornoch Distillery Company - North British Single Grain Scotch Whisky, 17 Year Old
Fruitful Spirits – Fruitful Spirits 50 Year Old Cambus
Loch Lomond Group - Spearhead Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Murray McDavid – Mission Gold - North British 37YO Pedro Ximenez Sherry Cask
Saltire Rare Malt – Saltire Rare Malt, Port Dundas #50092100
Single Malt Scotch No Age Statement Unpeated
CVH Spirits - Bunnahabhain Tri Seudan
CVH Spirits - Deanston Chronicles 60th Anniversary Edition
Eden Mill St. Andrews Distillery - Eden Mill Art of St. Andrews 2025 Release
Falkirk Whisky Distillery Company - Falkirk Whisky
Falkirk Whisky Distillery Company - Kelpies Whisky
Morrisons Distillers – Aberargie
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Harrison Ford Limited Edition
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Signet
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Signet Reserve
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve
Lindores Abbey Distillery - Nectere Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Glen scotia Double Cask Rum Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky
National Trust for Scotland - Culloden 1746
Nc’nean Distillery - Huntress: Malted Teacake
Nc’nean Distillery - Quiet Rebels: Matthew
Speyside distillers co - SPEY Chairman’s Choice PX
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh - The Sherried One - The Jane Street Collection
Single Malt Scotch No Age Statement Peated - Sponsored by Saverglass
Aceo Spirits – Smokey Scot
Ardbeg Distillery – Ardbeg An Oa
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Dolce
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Uigeadail
Ardnahoe Distillery - Ardnahoe Bholsa
Ardnahoe Distillery - Ardnahoe Infinite Loch
Benbecula Distillery – Wheelhouse Cask No 4 - Prophecy
CVH Spirits - Ledaig Sinclair Series Rioja Cask Finish
The Glenmorangie Company - New Product Under Embargo F
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia Victoriana Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond the Original Triple Oak Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Mac-Talla - Mac Talla PX - Pedro Ximenez
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh - The Smokey One - The Jane Street Collection
Single Malt Scotch Aged 12 and Under - Sponsored by Speyside Capital
Ardbeg Distillery – Ardbeg Ten Years Old
Ardbeg Distillery – Ardbeg Wee Beastie
The Benromach Distillery Co. - Benromach 12 Years Old
Brave New Spirits – Laphroig 10 YO
Brave New Spirits - Whisky of Voodoo “The Smoking Curse” Ardmore 8 Years Old
CVH Spirits – Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Cask Strength: 2025 Edition
CVH Spirits – Ledaig 10 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Decadent Drinks - Old Orkney 8 years old
Dornoch Distillery Company - Thompson Bros Clynelish Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 8 Year Old
DOUGLAS LAING &CO - Old Particular Fanatical About Flavour: LOWLAND 10YO
Ever Curious - Ever Curious “The Rich One” 11 Year Old Clynelish
The Glenmorangie Company – Glenmorangie The Accord 12 Years Old
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie The Original 12 Years Old
InchDairnie Distillery – KinGlassie Double Matured
InchDairnie Distillery - KinGlassie Raw
Isle of Arran Distillers - Arran 10 Year Old
Little Brown Dog Spirits - Aberdeenshire Single Malt
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia 12 year old single malt scotch whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12 year old single malt Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond 12 Year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Murray McDavid – Benchmark - Aberlour 11yo Ximénez-Spínola PX Sherry Cask Finish
Speyside Distillers Co - SPEY Brume Doree 12-years-old
Single Malt Scotch Aged 13-16 - Sponsored by Catalyst ERP
Aceo Spirits- Osprey 15 YO Bourbon
The Benromach Distillery Co. - Benromach 15 Years Old
CVH Spirits - Bunnahabhain Bagh Garbh 13 Year Old
Fruitful Spirits - Fruitful Spirits 13 Year Old Highland Park
Fruitful Spirits – Fruitful Spirits 14 Year Old Glenglassaugh
The Glenmorangie Company – Glenmorangie The Elementa 14 Years Old
The Glenmorangie Company – Glenmorangie The Nectar 16 Years Old
The Glenmorangie Company – Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Years Old
The Glenmorangie Company - New Product Under Embargo D
Isle of Arran Distillers - Arran 14 Year Old
Murray McDavid - Benchmark - Ledaig 16yo Quinta Dos Frades Wine Cask Finish
Murray McDavid - Mystery Malt - Ard-LESS 16yo Spínola PX + Tawny Port Cask Finish
One Cask at a Time – Glen Garioch 15 Year Old
One Cask at a Time – Ben Nervis 13 YO
Single Malt Scotch Aged 17-20 - Sponsored by VCL Vintners
CVH Spirits - Deanston - 17 Year Old Orange Wine Cask Finish
CVH Spirits - Deanston 18 Year Old Whisky
Decadent Drinks - The Teuchter Batch 3 18 years old
Ferguson Whisky - Ferguson Whisky Lochindaal 18
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie The Infinita 18 Years Old
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia 18 year old single malt scotch whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond 18 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Murray McDavid - Benchmark - Highland Park 17yo Ex - Bourbon
Single Malt Scotch Aged 21 and Over - Sponsored by Sanderson Weatherall
The Benromach Distillery Co. - Benromach 21 Years Old
CVH Spirits – Bunnahabhain - 21 Year Old Cask Strength: 2025 Edition
CVH Spirits - The Hebridean Series: Tobermory 27 Year Old
The Glenmorangie Company – Glenmorangie The Altus 25 Years Old
The Glenmorangie Company – Glenmorangie The Aureum 21 Years Old
The Glenmorangie Company – Glenmorangie The Thirty
The Glenmorangie Company - New Product Under Embargo E
Murray McDavid - Mission Gold - Miltonduff 31Yo PX Sherry + Margauc Wine Cask Finish