Crime Short Story Competition rules and regulations
12/01/2026Glassroom: Q&A with the Distillers

The Glencairn Glass short story competition – Competition rules and regulations:
The competition is open to all writers worldwide, published and unpublished, who are over 16 years old by 23rd October 2023.
Stories entered for the competition should not have been previously published in any format, online or print, self-published or paid.
Entry format required:
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- All stories must be in English, ideally 1.5 or double-spaced, 12pt.
- Files must be in Microsoft Word (.docx or .doc), rich text (.rtf) or in PDF format.
- The title of the story and page number should appear on every page. This should be inserted using the header format option.
- The total number of words excluding the title, should be listed at the end of the story. The maximum is 2000 words.
Submission: All stories must be submitted via the online entry form. Submissions are limited to one per author. No corrections can be made after submission.
Copyright: All stories submitted must be original, fictional, and entirely the author’s own work, not infringe the copyright or any other rights of any third party and not be defamatory of any living person or corporate body. All stories by finalists that are published on our website or in Scottish Field will be credited. The author will retain the copyright to their story.
Publication: Publication for the winner and runner-up will be online via the whiskyglass.com website and also at Scottish Field Magazine online. The overall winning story will also published in Scottish Field Magazine in the spring (2024).
Judging: All entries will be judged by a team of readers. A short list will be drawn up by this team and the final judging to select the winner and runner-up will be undertaken by the panel of three selected judges. The judge’s decision is final. Glencairn Crystal Studio cannot enter into discussion with any entrant in the judging process. We cannot provide feedback on individual stories
Publicity: By entering this competition all writers agree that if they are the winner or runner-up, their stories may be published on the whiskyglass.com and Scottish Field websites and the overall winner will be published in Scottish Field Magazine and their work may be used elsewhere for publicity purposes.
All finalists in the short story competition will be informed by email / telephone by the end of February 2024

Criteria For Entry
Short story must be 2,000 words or less.
The competition is open to all writers worldwide, published and unpublished, who are over 16 years old.
Stories entered for the competition should not have been previously published in any format, online or print, self-published or paid.
- All stories must be written in English
- Text should be 12-point font, ideally 1.5 or double-spaced
- Submissions must be uploaded as Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), Rich Text (.rtf), or PDF files
- The story title and page number must appear on every page, using the document’s header function
- Please include the total word count (excluding the title) at the end of the story
- The maximum word limit is 2,000 words
All stories must be submitted via the online entry form.
Only one submission per author is permitted.
Please note that no corrections or changes can be made after submission.
All submitted stories must be original works of fiction, written entirely by the author.
Entries must not infringe copyright or any other rights of a third party and must not be defamatory of any living person or corporate body.
Stories by finalists that are published on the Glencairn Glass website or in Bloody Scotland will be fully credited.
Authors retain full copyright to their stories.
All entries will be assessed by this year’s judging panel, which includes six of the UK’s leading crime book influencers, alongside Kirsty Nicholson, Design and Marketing Manager at Glencairn Crystal.
The judges’ decision is final, and Glencairn Crystal Studio cannot enter into discussion with entrants regarding the judging process.
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide individual feedback on submitted stories.
By entering the competition, writers agree that if they are selected as winner or runner-up, their stories may be published on the whiskyglass.com and bloodyscotland.com websites.
Winning work may also be used elsewhere for publicity purposes.
Weekly Whisky News- 9th of January
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday, 9th January 2026
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
January Whisky Highlights: New Exclusives from The Whisky Exchange, Highland Park, and Royal Salute
The Whisky Exchange unveiled three January exclusives: a Scottish oak–matured Torabhaig single malt, an eight-year-old whiskey from Bardstown Bourbon Co., and a 2023 Jamaican rum from Hampden Estate. Read More
Edrington’s Highland Park revealed a limited-edition cask-strength single malt made with 100% Orkney peat-smoked barley. Highland Park Cask Strength: Heather is the distillery’s most peated expression to date showcasing Highland Park’s signature heathered peat, responsibly sourced from nearby Hobbister Moor. Read More
Royal Salute launched its 21 Year Old Lunar New Year Special Edition, Ignite the New Year, to mark the Year of the Horse. The limited-edition gift pack features artwork by award-winning British artist Emily Carter. Read More
Weekly Whisky News- 19th of December
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday, 19th December 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Teeling Reintroduces Christmas Batch, Raasay Launches Immersive Experience and Harrison Ford Celebrates Glenmorangie
Following the sell-out success of last year’s release, Teeling has reintroduced its Christmas Batch Irish whiskey to Dublin and Cork airports. The triple-distilled malt and grain blend underwent dual fermentation using white wine and distiller’s yeasts, before being finished in a combination of Port, red wine and Sherry casks. Read More
Isle of Raasay Distillery launched The Raasay Way: a two-day immersive experience of hands-on, behind-the-scenes whisky-making. Guests take part in milling, mashing, running the stills and making spirit cuts, before blending and bottling their own personalised Raasay whisky to take home. Read More
Wearing a Santa hat and kilt, Harrison Ford delivered a festive message celebrating Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky which follows on from the Once Upon a Time in Scotland campaign this year. Its twelve episodes told the story of Ford reluctantly shooting an advertisement for Glenmorangie, before being won over by its craft, people and whisky. Read More
Weekly Whisky News- 12th of December
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday, 12th December 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Midleton Marks 200 Years With Mizunara Release as Glen Moray Launches First Fully Peated 12 Year Old
Midleton Distillery in Ireland celebrated its 200th anniversary with a limited-edition 28 year old single pot still whiskey – the first Midleton Very Rare release to feature Japanese mizunara oak. Midleton Very Rare 200th Anniversary Edition is crafted from five select casks and highlights the distillery’s three distinctive single pot still styles. Read More
Glen Moray released its first fully peated whisky: a 12 year old Smoky single malt aged in American and European oak. Glen Moray Smoky joins the distillery’s refreshed Heritage range, alongside the 12, 15, and 18 year old single malts. Read More
Maclean Foundation’s 34 year Old Auchroisk, Glenturret’s Interlude Release, and Clydebuilt’s Expanded Range
The Maclean Foundation launched its fourth whisky: a 34 year old Auchroisk celebrating the Maclean brothers’ record-breaking row across the Pacific. Established by whisky expert Charles Maclean MBE and his sons Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan, the foundation raises money for clean-water projects. In August, the brothers completed their 9,750-mile, unsupported journey from Peru to Australia in 139 days setting a new world record for the fastest human-powered Pacific crossing. Read More
The Glenturret Distillery unveiled a limited-edition single malt celebrating the artistry of time, wood and patient maturation.. The Glenturret Interlude is first aged in Sherry-seasoned casks and then finished for over a year in Pedro Ximénez hogsheads. Read More
Ardgowan Distillery’s boutique label Clydebuilt has expanded its range with four new limited-edition releases, including three single cask bottlings. The range pays homage to the River Clyde’s rich shipbuilding legacy. Read More
Weekly Whisky News- 4th of December
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday, 4th December 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Whisky Milestones: Wire Works Takes Top Honours as Benriach Unveils 31 Year Old Art Collaboration
For the first time, spirits retailer The Whisky Exchange, has awarded its Whisky of the Year for 2026 to an English single malt. Wire Works Bourbon Barrel from White Peak Distillery in Derbyshire impressed judges in a blind tasting dominated by Scottish contenders. Read More
Benriach partnered with generative artist Stefano Contiero to release a 31 year old single malt, the first in its new Shades of Smoke collection. Distilled in 1994, the Speyside whisky highlights the gentle side of Benriach’s smoky style. Read More
Exceptional Releases: Rare Casks and Exclusive Collaborations Across the Whisky World
Twin whiskies distilled on the same day in 1994 at Glendronach Distillery were revealed in the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s latest Creators Collection release. The limited-edition Diptych pair explores symmetry and contrast through two 30 year old single casks from the same origin. Read More
Independent bottler, Rare Find, closed its 10th anniversary with a 42 year old single cask single malt from Caol Ila Distillery. Taken from refill hogshead #1288, the whisky celebrates the company’s roots, returning to the distillery that produced its very first bottling. Read More
The Glasgow Distillery announced a new limited-edition collaboration with The Whisky Shop. Glasgow 1770 The Whisky Shop Exclusive is a 9 year-old peated single malt matured for three years in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and then six years and three months in a virgin American white oak hogshead from Kentucky’s Kelvin Cooperage. Read More
Weekly Whisky News- 28th of November
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday, 28th November 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
New Whisky Releases: Tomatin Creation #7 and Highgrove Evergreen English Whisky
Tomatin revealed its seventh instalment in the limited edition Creation series, Creation #7. It has been matured in rare Pineau des Charentes Rouge and American virgin oak casks, resulting in a flavour profile of rhubarb, custard, heather smoke and sweet oak spice. Read More
Highgrove and Cotswolds Distillery introduced Highgrove Evergreen English Whisky, a single malt distilled from Plumage Archer barley grown on the Highgrove Estate. It is matured in a combination of bourbon and STR red wine casks. Read More
Aberargie’s First Single Malt, Lochlea’s Final Overtone Release & Tailored Spirits’ Experimental Series
Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers’ Aberargie Distillery announced it will launch its first single malt in March 2026. A 100-day countdown begins on St Andrew’s Day (30 November). The whisky is a barley-to-bottle single malt made with Golden Promise, a heritage barley variety, nine years after the first casks were filled. Read More
Lochlea Distillery in Ayrshire released the final bottling in its collaboration with Glasgow craft brewer, Overtone Brewery. Lochlea Overtone – Over & Stout is fully grown, distilled, and matured on-site and reflects Lochlea’s commitment to local ingredients, sustainability, and in-house maturation. Read More
Tailored Spirits in Edinburgh launched four new whiskies in their Experimental Series: an Aultmore 15-year-old, a Benriach 13-year-old, a Dailuaine 13-year-old and a 23-year-old Springbank. Read More
Weekly Whisky News- 21st of November
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday, 21st November 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
New Whisky Releases: Milroy’s and Kristiane Westray Launch Charity Dailuaine 13-Year-Old as Ballantine’s Unveils 40-Year-Old “The Moment”
Whisky writer Kristiane Westray teamed up with independent bottler Milroy’s of Soho to support trans+ charity Not A Phase. For the Dolls is a 13-year-old Dailuaine single malt, distilled in July 2012. Proceeds will help fund the charity and raise awareness of the challenges faced by the UK trans+ community. Read More
Ballantine’s Scotch Whisky unveiled The Moment, the third release in its ultra-limited 40 Year Old Masterclass Collection. One of five annual editions, the series celebrates the craftsmanship and knowledge passed down through generations of Ballantine’s master blenders. Read More
Bruichladdich Unveils X4+18 Edition 01 as GlenAllachie and Tamdhu Launch Lunar New Year Limited Editions
Islay Distillery, Bruichladdich, launched X4+18 Edition 01, the world’s first quadruple-distilled 18 year old single malt Scotch whisky. Distilled four times through the distillery’s unique stills and matured in a combination of Bourbon and Rivesaltes casks on Islay for 18 years, only 2,400 bottles are available. Read More
The GlenAllachie Distillery revealed its second limited-edition Lunar New Year release, celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse. The 13 year old single malt is matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso sherry and virgin oak casks. Read More
Also celebrating the Lunar New Year, Tamdhu announced its Year of the Horse 2026 limited edition, with just 300 bottles available in the UK. The release comes in bold red Lunar New Year packaging featuring artwork by visual artist, Page Tsou, depicting a jockey and horse passing Tamdhu’s historic Dalbeallie railway station. Read More
Weekly Whisky News- 14th of November
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday, 14th November 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
New Whisky Releases: Aberlour Unveils Its First 50-Year-Old Whisky as Kilchoman Launches Machir Bay Cask Strength Edition
Speyside distillery, Aberlour, unveiled its first ever 50 year old whisky – a rare release limited to just 20 bottles worldwide, priced at £31,000 each. Each bottle is presented in a bespoke oak cabinet crafted by designer John Galvin, inspired by the casks that nurtured the whisky over five decades. Read More
Three years after its last release, Kilchoman Distillery revealed the cask strength edition of its flagship Machir Bay. Heavily peated and bottled at natural strength, it delivers powerful smoke balanced by bright citrus, warm spice, and fresh vanilla. Read More
Tomatin’s 10-Year-Old brings a taste of affordable luxury, while TLDC’s Yesteryear reawakens London’s whisky legacy with a six-year-old rye born from history.
Tomatin launched a new 10 year old single malt, designed to offer a taste of luxury at an affordable price of £42. Matured exclusively in bourbon barrels, it delivers sweet, fruity, and buttery notes, with vibrant tropical flavours characteristic of Tomatin. Available at Waitrose and on Amazon. Read More
The London Distillery Company (TLDC) has unveiled Yesteryear, a six year old single London rye whisky inspired by the distillery’s 2011 origins and crafted anew from its LV-1767 Edition – the first new London whisky in over a century. The original spirit was discovered preserved in glass and re-casked in first-fill sherry octaves before finishing in a refill sherry quarter cask. Read More
Weekly Whisky News- 7th of November
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday, 7th November 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
New Whisky Releases: Independent Bottler The Heart Cut Partners with Westland Distillery as The Macallan Unveils Its Latest A Night on Earth Release
Independent bottler, The Heart Cut, has partnered with Westland Distillery for its 20th bottling. Matured in ex-Bourbon casks, this single cask release from the Seattle-based distillery offers an earthy, herbal depth with subtle coastal smoke leading to creamy sweetness and sun-warmed fruit. Read More
The Macallan launched its fourth annual A Night on Earth whisky to celebrate the sunrise in New Zealand on 1st January as one of the first countries to experience it in the New Year. The whisky presents a delicate sweetness, with berry compote, toasted marshmallow and a hint of New Zealand Manuka honey on the nose. Read More
Cutty Sark Debuts 17-Year-Old Triple-Cask Expression as Glenlivet Reveals 56-Year-Old Eternal Collection Release
Cutty Sark released a triple-cask matured expression at 17 Years Old. The whisky is a blend of aged Highland and Speyside single malts matured in first-fill Bourbon casks and offers oaky notes with a hint of cappuccino, cocoa and a lingering finish. Read More
Glenlivet unveiled a 56 Year Old whisky as part of the Eternal Collection. It’s scheduled to be auctioned at Sotheby’s later in November with an estimated price of £35-70k. Read More









