Glen Scotia has announced the 2025 edition of its annual Campbeltown Malts Festival bottling.
This year held on 20–21 May, the festival celebrates Campbeltown's whisky producers and heritage as the 'Victorian Whisky Capital of the World'.
For the 2025 festival edition, Glen Scotia has bottled a heavily peated nine-year-old single malt, an unusual release from the distillery, which only produced peated spirit for four weeks every year.
The whisky was matured in first-fill bourbon barrels, followed by a five-month finishing period in Ribera del Duero red wine casks sourced from Spain. The distillery says the resulting whisky has notes of red fruits, liquorice, vanilla, and peat smoke, all complementing Glen Scotia's 'maritime' style.
Iain McAlister, Glen Scotia master distiller and distillery manager, said: "This year’s Festival Release promises a unique experience that will transport you straight to Campbeltown with your first sip. As well as delivering the maritime and salinity notes synonymous with Glen Scotia, this whisky also provides an element of surprise as it develops on the palate."
The bottling also features an "on-pack experience" — a QR code which directs Campbeltown fans to a journey around the 'Wee Toon', led by three Scottish travel influencers.
McAlister explained: "The virtual on-pack experience also offers something really special this year — our remote home on the Kintyre peninsula makes for a wild and beautiful journey that not everyone is able to take. Now people can experience what it’s like to make the spectacular journey to Campbeltown with a selection of Scotland’s top travel content creators."
During the festival, Glen Scotia fans will have an opportunity to try the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2025 Edition through a guided tasting with brand ambassador Gary Mills, as well as tastings of the distillery's other drams with McAlister and master blender Ashley Smith.
Glen Scotia’s Campbeltown Malts Festival 2025 release is non-chill filtered, bottled at cask strength of 54.3% ABV. It is available now at RRP £68 via Glen Scotia and specialist retailers.
