World Whiskies Awards Scotland 2026 — Category Winners and Icons of Whisky announced!
04.12.25
The World Whiskies Awards is pleased to announce that the Taste Category winners and the Icons of Whisky Scotland 2026 have been revealed.
World Whiskies Awards announces Scotland winners for 2026 at prestigious Edinburgh dinnerEdinburgh, Scotland — The World Whiskies Awards is pleased to announce that the Taste category winners and the Icons of Whisky Scotland 2026 have now been revealed. This year’s ceremony was held at the iconic Signet Library, a landmark venue nestled in the heart of Edinburgh’s historic Old Town, bringing together leading figures from across Scotland’s whisky industry.
Guests were welcomed with talks from Damian Riley-Smith, founder of Whisky Magazine, and Bradley Weir, editor of Whisky Magazine, who reflected on the continued whisky craftsmanship in Scotland that helps define the global whisky landscape. Additional words from the World Whiskies Awards team highlighted the significance of Scotland’s contributions globally.
The event also marked the return of key supporters: Glencairn Crystal, McLaren Presentation, IPL Packaging, Larkfire, and Rankin, alongside several new sponsors, including Smurfit & VCL Vintners, joining the awards this year.
A notable moment of the evening included the induction of two new industry legends into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame, which recognises individuals whose lifelong dedication and expertise have shaped the modern whisky world.
The inductees were:
· Inductee 104: Susan Morrison, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Experience
· Inductee 105: Gordon Motion, former master whisky maker for Edrington
The awards saw a variety of new faces taking the Icons spotlight this year, including Callum Fraser of Glenfarclas Distillery for Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year, Kirsty Wright of Whyte & Mackay for Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year, and Hugh McMurray of Glasgow Distillery Company for Cooper of the Year.
These champions of the World Whiskies Awards Scotland will now advance to compete against category winners from France, Ireland, Canada, Japan, America, and the Rest of World regions. The global winners — honoured with the title of World’s Best — will be announced in March 2026.
Click here for a downloadable PDF of the full list of winners for the World Whiskies Awards Scotland 2026.
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