The finalists in the 7th annual Scottish Whisky Awards have been revealed, with 43 distilleries and 192 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 panel of judges. The results highlight the very best of Scotland’s national drink, with finalists announced across 11 taste categories and 7 business categories, reinforcing the awards’ reputation as the premier celebration of Scotch whisky.
The Scottish Whisky Awards provide a unique platform for whisky companies to come together, celebrate their achievements, and promote Scotland’s most iconic global product. This year’s finalists showcase the strength and diversity of the industry, which continues to drive Scotland’s international reputation for excellence.
Four distilleries will be competing for the most coveted title of the evening, the Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year, sponsored by Howden. Last year, this prestigious accolade was claimed by Isle of Harris Distillery. This year, the finalists are Lochranza Distillery – Isle of Arran, Jackton Distillery, R&B Distillers Limited, and The Glasgow Distillery Co. Together, they represent the innovation, craftsmanship, and dedication that define the thriving Scotch whisky sector.
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 winners of the 7th Scottish Whisky Awards will be announced on Thursday, 27th November 2025, at a celebratory dinner hosted at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Glasgow Central. Created by PR and events specialists KDMedia, the event not only honours excellence in Scotch whisky but also raises funds for The Maclean Foundation, following the remarkable achievement of the Maclean brothers’ unsupported row across the Pacific Ocean earlier this year.
The Scottish Whisky Awards continues to be a major highlight in the Scotch Whisky calendar, celebrating the craftsmanship and dedication to producing Scotland’s most beloved export.
Tickets for the awards dinner are available HERE
The Finalists in Full:
Business Competition
SCOTTISH WHISKY DISTILLERY OF THE YEAR – sponsored by Howden
Lochranza Distillery -Isle of Arran
Jackton Distillery
R&B Distillers Limited
The Glasgow Distillery Co.
INDEPENDENT BOTTLER OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by Rankin Brothers & Sons
Brave New Spirits
Ferguson Whisky
Living Souls
One Cask at a Time
Tri Carragh Scotch Whisky
Turntable Spirits
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh
TOURISM DESTINATION OF THE YEAR
Arbikie Distillery Experience
Ardnahoe Distillery
Jackton Distillery
R & B Distillers
Rosebank Distillery (Ian Macleod Distillers)
The Lost Close
EXCELLENCE IN BRANDING – Sponsored by Macfarlane Labels Ltd
Living Souls
Saltire Rare Malt
Tailored Spirits Co.
The Glasgow Distillery Co.
The National Trust for Scotland
Turntable Spirits
Unkiltered Spirits
PRODUCT LAUNCH OF THE YEAR – Sponsored by H&A Barrell Management
Ardnahoe Distillery with Ardnahoe Inaugural Release
Brave New Spirits Ltd with Cask Masters Golden Proof & Distiller's Cut
InchDairnie Whisky with KinGlassie
The Glasgow Distillery Co. with No.15/10
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Ferguson Whisky with Speyside 12
Living Souls with Living Souls
Saltire Rare Malt with Saltire Rare Malt
SCOTCH WHISKY BAR OF THE YEAR
Amber Whisky Bar at The Scotch Whisky Experience
artisan restaurant
Athletic Arms
Cask and Vine
The Lochside
The Piper Whisky Bar
The Still at the Dowans Hotel, Aberlour (Shawfern Group Limited)’
The Snug Bar at The Glasshouse Hotel, Edinburgh (YTL Hotels)
Tipsy Midgie Whisky Bar
Taste Competition
Blended Scotch – Sponsored by Close Brothers Beverage Finance
Aceo, Aceo Spirits - Coleburn Selection
CVH Spirits - Black Bottle 10
CVH Spirits - Black Bottle Captains Cask
CVH Spirits - Black Bottle Andean Oak
InchDairnie Whisky - Islay Mist Original Blend
InchDairnie Whisky - Lauders Blended Scotch Whisky
Kinloch Anderson - THE KILTMAKER - PLEATED TO SETT
Living Souls - Ninety-Nine & One
Living Souls - 40-Year-Old Blended Scotch
Living Souls - 15-Year-Old Blended Scotch
Loch Lomond Group - High Commisioner Blended Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond Signature Blended Scotch
RAER Scotch Whisky - RAER Oloroso Expression
RAER Scotch Whisky - RAER Amontillado Expression
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company - White Heather 15 year-old
Turntable Spirits - Bittersweet Symphony
Turntable Spirits – Smokin’Riff
Turntable Spirits - Unplugged
Turntable Spirits - Paradise Funk
Blended Malt Scotch
Dornoch Distillery Company - SRV5
DOUGLAS LAING & CO LTD - Big Peat Islay Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
DOUGLAS LAING & CO LTD - Scallywag Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
DOUGLAS LAING & CO LTD - Timorous Beastie Highland Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Living Souls - 10YO Lagmore
Loch Lomond Group, Noble Rebel - Orchard Outburst
Loch Lomond Group, Noble Rebel - Smoke Symphony
Loch Lomond Group, Noble Rebel - Hazelnut Harmony
The Glasgow Distillery Co. - Malt Riot Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company - MacNair & Lum Reek 10 year-old Batch 3
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company - MacNair & Lum Reek 12 year-old
Uokka - 17 Black Whisky
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh - Highland Blended Malt 30 years old
Single Malt Scotch - No Age Statement Unpeated – Sponsored by Independent Stave Company
Aceo, Aceo Spirits - Glen Cooper: Heather Edition
Bladnoch Distillery - Bladnoch Samsara
Brave New Spirits - Highland Shepherd
CVH Spirits - Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine
CVH Spirits - Deanston Virgin Oak
Glen Moray Distillery - Phoenix Rising
Halewood Artisanal Spirits - Bonnington Muscat
Halewood Artisanal Spirits - John Crabbie Single Malt
Kingsbarns Distillery - Kingsbarns Doocot
Kingsbarns Distillery - Kingsbarns Balcomie
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia Double Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia Double Cask Rum Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia Double Cask Bordeuax Red Wine Finish Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Lochlea Distillery - Our Barley
Saltire Rare Malt - The Falkland Collection - Speyside Edition
Speyside distillers co - SPEY Chairmans Choice PX
The Clydside Distillery - Napier
The Clydside Distillery - Stobcross
The Glasgow Distillery Co. - Glasgow 1770 Triple Distilled Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Glasgow Distillery Co. - Glasgow 1770 The Original Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Signet
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Signet Reserve
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream
The National Trust for Scotland - Schiltron
Single Malt Scotch - No Age Statement Peated – Sponsored by SAVERGLASS
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Anamorphic
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg An Oa
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Eureka!
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Smoketrails Batch 2 Cote Rotie
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg SmokeTrails Batch 3 Napa Valley
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Smokiverse
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Uigeadail
Ardnahoe Distillery - Ardnahoe Bholsa
Badachro Distillery - Bad na h-Achlaise TUscan Oak Cask Finish
Bladnoch Distillery - Bladnoch Alinta
CVH Spirits - Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha
CVH Spirits - Ledaig Triple Wood
CVH Spirits - Ledaig Sinclair Series
Halewood Artisanal Spirits - Bonnington Peated Muscat
Isle of Arran Distillers - Lagg Single Malt Kilmory Edition
Isle of Arran Distillers - Lagg Single Malt Corriecravie Edition
Kingsbarns Distillery - Kingsbarns Coaltown
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond Steam & Fire Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Lochlea Distillery - Cask Strength Batch 3
R&B Distillers - Cask Strength
The Glasgow Distillery Co. - Glasgow 1770 Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Glasgow Distillery Co. - Glasgow 1770 Cask Strength Peated (Batch 02)
Torabhaig Distillery- Cnoc Na Moine
Single Cask Scotch - 12 and Under – Sponsored by Scott Pallets
Brave New Spirits - Cask Masters Linkwood 12 Year Old
Brave New Spirits - Cask Masters Glenglassaugh 11 Years Old
Brave New Spirits - WhiskyHeroes The Untamed Grace Ardlair 10 Years Old
Ferguson Whisky - Ferguson Whisky Speyside 12
Unkiltered Spirits - The Vagabond. Teaninich 12 year old
Unkiltered Spirits - The winter warmer. Tobermory 8 year old
Unkiltered Spirits - Ruadh Maor 10 year old.
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh - Tamdhu 10
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh - Lowland 10
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh - Woodrow's 101 proof Race to the Bottom Highland Motherlover
Single Cask Scotch - 13 and Over – Sponsored by Hillebrand Gori
Aceo, Murray McDavid - Mystery Malt - Speysides Finest 15yo Oloroso Sherry Butt
Aceo, Murray McDavid - Mission Gold - Highland Park 18yo Oloroso Sherry Octave
Brave New Spirits - Cask Masters Caol Ila 13 Years Old
Brave New Spirits - Cask Masters Blair Athol 13 Year Old
Brave New Spirits - Cask Masters Jura 16 Years Old
Brave New Spirits - WhiskyHeroes Silent Night Benrinnes 13 Years Old
DS Tayman - Winter Edition
DS Tayman - Summer Edition
LIMITED Whisky - Limited Highland Park 1989 33 Year Old Exceptional Cask Collection #3004
LIMITED Whisky - Limited Bowmore Exceptional Cask Collection 1989 34 Year Old #1972
One Cask at a Time - One Cask at a Time - Ledaig 30
One Cask at a Time - One Cask at a Time - Glentauchers 15
One Cask at a Time - One Cask at a Time - Aultmore 33
Saltire Rare Malt - Craigellachie 17 Year Old, 48.8% ABV
Saltire Rare Malt - Miltonduff 17 Year Old, 59.5% Cask Strength
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh – Woodrow’s Glentauchers 16
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh - Deanston 16
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh - Arran 28 year old
Single Grain & Blended Grain Scotch
Aceo, Murray McDavid - Mission Gold - Loch Lomond 28yo Sauternes Wine Finish
Aceo, Murray McDavid - Select Grain - North British 13yo Murcca Port + Spinola PX Finish
Brave New Spirits - Cask Masters North British 13 Years Old
Living Souls - 25-Year-Old Dumbarton
Loch Lomond Group - Spearhead Single Grain Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond Single Grain - Unpeated
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond Single Grain - Peated
Single Malt Scotch- 12 and Under – Sponsored by Speyside Capital
Aceo, Aceo Spirits - Parkmore Selection 7yo Madeira Finish
Aceo, Murray McDavid - Benchmark - Linkwood 12yo Oloroso + Tawny Port Finish
Ardnahoe Distillery - Ardnahoe Inaugural Release
Bladnoch Distillery - Bladnoch 8YO
CVH Spirits - Bunnahabhain Cask Strength 12 Year Old
CVH Spirits - Deanston 10YO Bordeaux TRX
CVH Spirits - Deanston 12
CVH Spirits - Tobermory 12
Glen Moray Distillery - Glen Moray Warehouse 1 Tequila Cask Finish
Glen Moray Distillery - Glen Moray Warehouse 1 Peated Tequila Cask Finish
Isle of Arran Distillers - Arran 10 Year Old Single Malt
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy 12 Years Old Highland
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy Madeira Cask GTR 12 Years Old Highland
John Dewar & Sons - Aultmore Oloroso Sherry Cask GTR 12 Years Old Speyside
John Dewar & Sons - Aultmore 12 Years Old Speyside
John Dewar & Sons - Royal Brackla OLOROSO 12 Years Old Highland
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia 10 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia 12 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond 10 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
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
Speyside Distillers co - SPEY 12-years-old
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company - Meikle Toir The Original
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company - Meikle Toir The Sherry One
The GlenAllachie Distillers Company - Meikle Toir The Chinquapin One
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Original 12 Years Old
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie The Accord
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Barrel Select Calvados Release
Single Malt Scotch- Aged 13 – 16 – Sponsored by Catalyst ERP
Aceo, Murray McDavid - Benchmark - Glen Garioch 14yo Ximinex Spinola PX Sherry Finish
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn
Glen Moray Distillery - Glen Moray 15 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy Madeira Cask GTR 16 Years Old Highland
John Dewar & Sons - Craigellachie 13 Years Old Speyside
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy 16 Years Old Highland
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia 15 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond Waypoint 16 year old - Falls of Falloch
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Lasanta 15 Years Old
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie The Nectar
The Glenmorangie Company - New Product - Under Embargo F
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie The Elementa
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate Batch 4
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Vindima
Single Malt Scotch - Aged 17 – 20 – Sponsored by VCL Vintners
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 6
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg 17 Years Old
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 7
CVH Spirits - Deanston 18
CVH Spirits - Ledaig 18
Glen Moray Distillery - Glen Moray 18 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - Royal Brackla PALO CORTADO 18 Years Old Highland
John Dewar & Sons - Aultmore 18 Years Old Speyside
John Dewar & Sons - Aultmore Madeira Cask GTR 18 Years Old Speyside
John Dewar & Sons - Craigellachie 17 Years Old Speyside
John Dewar & Sons - Craigellachie 19 Years Old Speyside
Loch Lomond Group - Glen Scotia 18 year old
Loch Lomond Group - Loch Lomond 18 year old single malt scotch whisky
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Infinita
Single Malt Scotch - 21 and Over – Sponsored by Sanderson Weatherall
Aceo, Murray McDavid - Mission Gold - Bowmore 23yo Port Pipe
Aceo, Murray McDavid - Mission Gold - Laphroaig 32yo Bourbon Barrel
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Y2K
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg 25 Years Old
Ardbeg Distillery - Ardbeg Seann Chreag 21 Years Old
John Dewar & Sons - Aultmore Oloroso Sherry Cask GTR 25 Years Old Speyside
CVH Spirits - Bunnahabhain 21 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Cask Finish
CVH Spirits - Tobermory 27
Glen Moray Distillery - Glen Moray 21 Years Port Wood Finish
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy 21 Years Old Highland
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy Sherry Cask 25 Years Old Highland
John Dewar & Sons - Aberfeldy Madeira Cask GTR 21 Years Old Highland
John Dewar & Sons - Aultmore 21 Years Old Speyside
John Dewar & Sons - Aultmore Calvados Cask GTR 21 Years Old Speyside
John Dewar & Sons - Craigellachie 23 Years Old Speyside
John Dewar & Sons - Royal Brackla OLOROSO - PALO CORTADO & PERDO XIMENEZ 21 Years Old Highland
John Dewar & Sons - Royal Brackla Pedro Ximenez 25 Years Old Highland
The Glenmorangie Company - Glenmorangie Aureum