The 6th annual Scottish Whisky Awards has announced its finalists, with 40 distilleries and 164 Scotch whiskies selected following an intensive judging process. The competition, which included a comprehensive blind tasting event, saw over 1,200 whisky samples presented to an expert judging panel. The results, reveal the finalists across 11 taste categories and 6 business categories, further cementing the awards' reputation as the premier event of its kind in Scotland.
The Scottish Whisky Awards offer a unique platform for whisky companies to come together, celebrate their successes, and promote Scotland’s most iconic global product. This year’s finalists reflect the strength and diversity of the Scotch whisky industry, which continues to drive Scotland’s international reputation for excellence.
Three distilleries will be competing for the most coveted title of the evening, Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year, sponsored by Howden. Last year, this prestigious accolade was claimed by Lagg Distillery, part of Isle of Arran Distillers. This year, the finalists are Holyrood Distillery, Isle of Harris Distillery, and Isle of Raasay Distillery. These distilleries represent the innovation, craftsmanship, and dedication that define the thriving Scotch whisky industry.
In addition to the competitive categories, the prestigious Professor Jim Swan Award for services to Scotch whisky will be presented. Established in 2019, this lifetime achievement award honours the legacy of the late Jim Swan, a revered independent consultant and collaborator who made significant contributions to the whisky industry throughout his career.
The 6th Scottish Whisky Awards winners will be revealed on Thursday, 28th November 2024, at a awards dinner hosted at the DoubleTree Hilton in Glasgow Central. The event, created by PR and events company KDMedia, not only celebrates the best of Scotch whisky but also serves as a fundraising initiative for The BEN, the Benevolent Society of the Licensed Trade of Scotland.
The Scottish Whisky Awards continues to be a major highlight in the whisky calendar, celebrating the craftsmanship and dedication to producing Scotland’s most beloved export.
Tickets for the event are available HERE.
The Finalists in Full:
Business Competition
Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year sponsored by Howden
Holyrood Distillery
Isle of Harris Distillery
Isle of Raasay Distillery
Independent Bottler of the Year sponsored by Rankin Bros
Brave New Spirits
Elixir Distillers
Fib Whisky
Little Brown Dog Spirits
Pendulum Spirits - Fable Whisky
Robert Graham 1874
Young Spirits Company
Tourism Destination of the Year sponsored by In Drinks Glasgow
Isle of Arran Distillers - Lochranza Distillery
Isle of Raasay Distillery - Borodale House
Rosebank Distillery
The Scotch Whisky Experience
Excellence in Branding
InchDairnie Distillery
Little Brown Dog Spirits
RAER Scotch Whisky
The Single Cask
Turntable Spirits
Product Launch of the Year sponsored by H&A Barrel Management
Ardnahoe Distillery with Ardnahoe Inaugural Release
Brave New Spirits with WhiskyHeroes
Isle of Harris Distillers with The Hearach
Isle of Raasay Distillery with Dùn Cana Sherry Quarter Cask
Robert Graham 1874 with the Court of Redonda Collection
Turntable Spirits with Collaboration Drop 1 with Starward - Blended Whisky
Newcomer of the Year
Isle of Harris Distillery with The Hearach Single Malt
Stravaig Spirits with Glenlaird Single Malt Whisky
The Bonnington Distillery with the Inaugural release
Turntable Spirits
Taste Competition
Blended Scotch sponsored by Close Brothers
Brave New Spirits - Royal Cabinet 20 Years Old
CVH Spirits - Black Bottle Original
Fib Whisky - Fib Whisky - Pictish Beastie #2
Little Brown Dog Spirits - Drookit Dug
MacDuff International (Scotch Whisky) - Islay Mist Double Peated
MacDuff International (Scotch Whisky) - Islay Mist Original Blend
MacDuff International (Scotch Whisky) - Islay Mist 10 Year Old
RAER Scotch Whisky - RAER Oloroso Expression
RAER Scotch Whisky - RAER Amontillado Expression
Tomatin Disillery - Antiquary aged 15 years
Tomatin Disillery - Antiquary aged 21 years
Tomatin Disillery - Antiquary aged 30 years
The Borders Distillery - WS:02 The Long and Short of it
Turntable Spirits - Paradise Funk
Turntable Spirits - Bittersweet Symphony
Turntable Spirits - Smokin' Riff
Blended Malt Scotch
17 Black - 17 Black 17 Year Old
Ardgowan Distillery Company - Clydebuilt Draughtsman
Dornoch Distillery Company - SRV5
Elixir Distillers - Elements of Islay Cask Edit
Elixir Distillers - Elements of Islay Bourbon Cask
Elixir Distillers - Elements of Islay Sherry Cask
J. G. Thomson & Co - J. G. Thomson Blended Malt & Co - Sweet
J. G. Thomson & Co - Rich Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
J. G. Thomson & Co - Smoky Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
J. G. Thomson & Co - Rich 23 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group Nobel - Rebel Hazelnut Harmony
Loch Lomond Group Nobel - Rebel Orchard Outburst
MacDuff International (Scotch Whisky) - WaterProof Blended Malt Whisky
Young Spirits Company - Ferg & Harris 34 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch
Young Spirits Company - Uhuru 12 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky Batch 2
Single Malt Scotch - No Age Statement Unpeated sponsored by Independent Stave Company
Badachro Distillery - Bad na h-Achlaise Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Caribbean Rum Cask Finish
Bladnoch Distillery - The Wave
Brave New Spirits - Old Smitty's Single Malt
CVH Spirits - Deanston Virgin Oak
Holyrood Distillery - Ambir
Isle of Arran Distillers - Arran Single Malt Quarter Cask 'The Bothy'
Isle of Arran Distillers - Arran Single Malt Sherry Cask 'The Bodega'
John Crabbie & Co - John Crabbie & Co Single Malt
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia Double Cask
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia Victoriana
Loch Lomond Group -Loch Lomond Steam & Fire
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia Crosshill
Lochlea Distillery - Our Barley
Lochlea Distillery - Cask Strength Batch Two
Aceo Ltd - Murray McDavid - Cask Craft, Benrinnes Madeira Finish
Aceo Ltd - Murray McDavid - Cask Craft, Linkwood Sherry Finish
Robert Graham 1874 - Lochwood Tower Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Speyside distillers co - SPEY Royal Choice
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve
Single Malt Scotch - No Age Statement Peated sponsored by Saverglass
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Uigeadail
Ardbeg Distillery- Ardbeg An Oa
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Hypernova
Badachro Distillery - Bad na h-Achlaise Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky - Tuscan Oak Cask Finish
Isle of Arran Distillers - Lagg Single Malt - Kilmory Edition
Isle of Arran Distillers - Lagg Single Malt - Corriecravie Edition
Isle of Harris Distillers - The Hearach Single Malt Whisky
Isle of Harris Distillers - The Hearach Single Malt Whisky - 100% Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured
Isle of Raasay Distillery - Oak Species Maturation Series: Quercus humboldtii Colombian Oak
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia Campbeltown 1832
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia Campbeltown Harbour
Aceo Ltd - Murray McDavid - Cask Craft, Croftengea Bourbon Finish
Speyside distillers co - SPEY Trilogia
Tomatin Disillery - Cù Bòcan Signature
Single Cask Scotch - 12 and Under sponsored by Scott Pallets
Bladnoch Distillery - Bladnoch Single Cask 2024 03
Brave New Spirits - WhiskyHeroes: Defender Of The Crown, Annandale 8 Years Old
Brave New Spirits - Cask Noir: Flamenco For The Badger Clan, Dailuane 12 Years Old
Chapter 7 Whisky - Monologue Inchgower 10 YO
Elixir Distillers - Port Askaig 8-Year-Old
Isle of Raasay Distillery - Na Sia Single Cask Series - Unpeated Bordeaux Red Wine
Isle of Raasay Distillery - Na Sia Single Cask Series - Unpeated Virgin Chinkapin Oak
Little Brown Dog Spirits - Little Brown Dog, Caol Ila 2014
NORTH STAR SPIRITS - North Star Spirits - Single Cask - Tullibardine
Robert Graham 1874 - Court of Redonda - Glen Garioch
Stravaig Spirits - Tri Carragh - Tamnavulin 12 year old
The Single Cask - Glasgow Distillery (Peated) Cask No 18/470
The Single Cask - Auchroisk Cask 801585
Woodrow's of Edinburgh - Mortlach 10
Woodrow's of Edinburgh - Caol Ila Cream Sherry 8
Young Spirits Company - Ferg & Harris 12 Year Old Caol Ila Single Malt Scotch Whisky Brunello di Montalcino Finish
Young Spirits Company - Ferg & Harris 12 Year Old Linkwood Single Malt Scotch Whisky Virgin Oak Finish
Young Spirits Company - Ferg & Harris 11 Year Old Tormore Single Malt Scotch Whisky Virgin Oak Finish
Young Spirits Company - Ferg & Harris 12 Year Old Longmorn Single Malt Scotch Whisky White Port Finish
Single Cask Scotch - 13 and Over sponsored by Hillebrand Gori
Ardgowan Distillery Company - Inverdarach Editions Distilled at GlenAllachie 16 years old
Fib Whisky - Glenallachie 15 Year Old (Copper & Oak Series #2)
Fib Whisky - Glenallachie 15 Year Old (Permutations Series #2)
Stravaig Spirits - Tri Carragh - Aultmore 16 year old
The Single Cask - Glenrothes Cask No 717982
The Single Cask - Longmorn Cask No 336A
The Single Cask - Linkwood Cask No 301554
Woodrow's of Edinburgh - Mannochmore 15
Young Spirits Company - Ferg & Harris 18 Year Old Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky Oloroso Finish
Young Spirits Company - Ferg & Harris Ledaig 27 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Oloroso Finish
Young Spirits Company - Ferg & Harris 15 Year Old Auchentoshan Single Malt Scotch Whisky Virgin Oak Finish
Young Spirits Company - Ferg & Harris 25 Year Old Auchentoshan Single Malt Scotch Whisky Calvados Finish
Young Spirits Company - Ferg & Harris Craigellachie 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky White Port Finish
Young Spirits Company - Ferg & Harris 14 Year Old Bunnahabhain Single Malt Scotch Whisky Sauternes Finish
Single Grain & Blended Grain Scotch
Brave New Spirits - Cask Noir: Take It To The Brig, Cameronbridge 12 Years Old
Fib Whisky - Girvan 26 Year Old (Permutations Series #2)
J. G. Thomson & Co - Sweet 1972 Blended Grain Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond Single Grain Floral & Sweet
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond Single Grain Peated Smoke & Fruit
Loch Lomond Group - Spearhead Single Grain
North Star Spirits - North Star Spirits - Single Cask - Cameronbridge
North Star Spirits - Capella
Stravaig Spirits - Tri Carragh - North British 33 year old
Single Malt Scotch- 12 and Under sponsored by MasterDistiller
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Ten Years Old
Ardgowan Distillery Company - Inverdarach Editions Ardgowan Distillery Open Day 2024 Highland 10 year old
Ardnahoe Distillery - Ardnahoe - Inaugural Release
Bladnoch Distillery - Bladnoch 8 Year Old
Brave New Spirits - WhiskyHeroes: The Haunting Songs, Caol Ila 12 Years Old
Brave New Spirits - Whisky Of Voodoo: The Dancing Cultist, 7 Years Old
Brave New Spirits - Celtic Revival Single Malt 12 Years Old
CVH Spirits - Bunnahabhain 12yr
Isle of Arran Distillers - Arran Single Malt - 10 Year Old
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy 12 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy Madeira Cask 12 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - Aultmore 12 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - Aultmore Oloroso Sherry Cask 12 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - Royal Brackla 12 Years Old Oloroso
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia 10 year old
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival Edition 2024 9 year
old Fino Sherry Finish
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond 12 year old - Perfectly Balanced
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond 12 year old Inchmurrin
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond 12 year old - Inchmoan
Aceo Ltd - Murray McDavid - Benchmark Glentauchers Aged 9 Years
Aceo Ltd - Murray McDavid - Benchmark Caol Ila Aged 12 Years
Aceo Ltd - Murray McDavid - Benchmark Strathmill Aged 10 Years
Stavaig Spirits - Glenlaird Single Malt Whisky - 12 year old Lightly Peated
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie The Accord
The Glenturret Distillery - The Glenturret 7 Years Old Peat Smoked
The Glenturret Distillery - The Glenturret 10 Years Old
Single Malt Scotch- Aged 13 – 16 sponsored by Catalyst ERP
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Anthology: The Harpy's Tale
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn
Bladnoch Distillery - Bladnoch 16 Year Old
CVH Spirits - Deanston 15yr Tequila Cask finish
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy 16 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - "Craigellachie 13 Years Old"
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy Madeira Cask 16 Years Old
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia 15 year old
Aceo Ltd - Murray McDavid - Benchmark Ledaig Aged 15 Years
Aceo Ltd - Murray McDavid - Benchmark Inchgower Aged 15 Years
Speyside Distillers co - SPEY 15yo - Spirit of Speyside Festival Bottling 2024
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
Glenmorangie The Nectar
Glenmorangie The Elementa
Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate Batch 4
Glenmorangie Vindima
Single Malt Scotch - Aged 17 – 20 sponsored by VCL Vintners
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg 17YO
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19YO Batch 6
CVH Spirits - Bunnahabhain 18
CVH Spirits - Ledaig 18
Elixir Distillers - Port Askaig 17-Year-Old
John Dewar & Sons - Aultmore Madeira Cask 18 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - "Craigellachie 17 Years Old"
John Dewar & Sons - Royal Brackla 18 Years Old Palo Cortado
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia 18 year old
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond 18 year old
Glenmorangie 18YO Infinita
Glenmorangie 19 Years Old
Single Malt Scotch - 21 and Over sponsored by Sanderson Weatherall
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg 21YO
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg 25YO
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Y2K
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy 25 - 125th Anniversary
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy 21 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy Madeira Cask 21 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - Aultmore Calvados Cask 21 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - Aultmore Oloroso Sherry Cask 25 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - "Craigellachie 23 Years Old"
John Dewar & Sons - Royal Brackla 21 Years Old Oloroso - Palo Cortado & Perdo Ximénez
John Dewar & Sons - Royal Brackla 25 Years Old Pedro Ximénez
John Dewar & Sons - Craigellachie Small Batch 37 Years Old
Glenmorangie 21YO The Aureum