Glen Scotia reveals 2026 festival bottling
Campbeltown distillery Glen Scotia has unveiled its 2026 limited edition whisky in honour of the region’s Malts Festival, taking place in May.
Glen Scotia’s annual festival bottlings are said to have built a reputation for boasting bold and intriguing flavours, with its Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 release looking to continue that tradition.
Aged for seven years in first-fill Bourbon barrels before being finished for six months in ruby Port casks, the limited edition single malt is medium-peated.
Ashley Smith, master blender at Glen Scotia, described the whisky as “a true celebration of Glen Scotia’s big Campbeltown character”.
“This year’s festival release 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.”
Once known as the ‘Victorian whisky capital of the world’, Campbeltown – now Scotland’s smallest whisky-producing region – is ‘steeped in rich whisky heritage’. Glen Scotia’s small team seeks to preserve the traditional whisky-making methods used in the area by utilising small stills to create the big Campbeltown flavours the brand is known for.
The Campbeltown Malts Festival is a flagship event in Glen Scotia’s calendar, welcoming thousands of visitors each year to experience the distillery’s Campbeltown character.
The 2026 festival edition seeks to celebrate not only the whisky itself, but also the people who define the town’s ‘resilient’ character.
Presented in a premium navy blue box, Glen Scotia’s Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 Release 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.
“The Campbeltown Malts Festival is always a special time for us, when the town comes alive with visitors from around the world,” Smith said. “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, which will take place on 19 and 20 May, will explore the distillery’s rich whisky-making heritage.
A selection of ticketed and free events will offer a glimpse 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 Smith will trace Campbeltown’s maritime past with the ‘Port to Port’ masterclass, demonstrating how Sherry, rum and wine casks continue to shape Glen Scotia’s style.
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 of 53.9% ABV, and will retail for £59 (US$79).
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