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
