The small Scottish coastal town of Campbeltown was once home to over 30 distilleries, and it was known as the “Victorian Whisky Capital of the World”.

Today, Glen Scotia is one of three surviving distilleries in the region.

And both Glen Scotia and Campbeltown are developing a strong reputation among whisky enthusiasts in spite of the region’s production output, which ­is tiny in the context of Scotch whisky.

Today, Glen Scotia is owned by the Loch Lomond Group and a continuing program of investment has brought dividends for the distillery.

In 2021, Glen Scotia 25-Year-Old was awarded ‘Best In Show’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Later that same year Glen Scotia named ‘Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year’ at the Scottish Whisky Awards, making it the first distillery ever to receive both accolades, let alone within the same year.

Iain McAlister is at the forefront of driving this recognition. The former engineer has been at the helm of Glen Scotia for fifteen years. Born and bred in Campbeltown, he is fiercely proud of the place he calls home, especially its community and its rich whisky heritage.  

Drawing on his background as an engineer, Iain has developed and enhanced production at Glen Scotia, whilst making sure to preserve the craftsmanship and traditional skills it values.

I really enjoyed this conversation with Iain, made possible by the support of the Loch Lomond Group.

We recorded this interview during Iain’s first ever visit to Sydney in February 2023.

You can find Glen Scotia Single Malt Whisky exclusively in Vintage Cellars, Liquorland and First Choice Liquor outlets across Australia.

Click here to open episode in your podcast player.