Emma Glen Scotia unveils bold new limited-edition whisky for Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026
We joined folks from Campbeltown distillery Glen Scotia last night to toast the launch of has its limited-edition single malt in celebration of Campbeltown Malts Festival.
The Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 is aged for seven years, matured in first-fill bourbon barrels before being finished for six months in ruby port casks.
The distinctive dual cask maturation has resulted in big flavours of ripe red fruit and gentle sweet peat and warming spice. This also creates a stunning colour.
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/ .
