4 Distilleries to Watch Out for in 2026

2025 was a big year for Scotch whisky. Don’t get me wrong, the industry faced some huge obstacles (when does it not?) and was very up and down, but speaking from first-hand experience, I couldn’t be prouder of the position the industry currently finds itself in.

One thing I did notice last year, which really impressed me, was just how innovative whisky distilleries are becoming, not only across Scotland’s whisky regions, but across the Home Nations in general. Distilleries are pushing boundaries and trying new things, while remaining true to what whisky is all about.

Because the industry is in such a promising position, new distilleries are popping up all over the nation, with plenty more in the pipeline. While some are concerned this could lead to oversaturation of the market, and could result in corners being cut, I personally prefer to take a much more optimistic look at things. As far as I’m concerned, more distilleries mean more choice, and more exceptional drams being produced. The tricky part is knowing which distilleries to keep an eye on.

With so many distilleries to choose from, here are just four distilleries I’ll be watching closely in 2026.

The Glasgow Distillery

The first distillery I have for you today is one of Scotland’s newest offerings. Having been established back in 2012, The Glasgow Distillery Co is an independent distillery started by a group of friends nearly fifteen years ago.

There’s a lot I love about this distillery. I love their friendly, down-to-earth attitude to whisky. I love how, rather than being nestled amongst rolling hills, rugged coastline, and majestic glens, they’re instead situated in an industrial estate on the outskirts of Glasgow. What I love the most however, is their exceptional whisky.

In their early days, the whisky they produced went down extremely well. Since then, though, it’s gone from strength to strength. When Liam Hughes, Ian MacDougall, and Mike Hayward established the distillery, it was the first independent distillery in Glasgow since 1902. Their Glasgow 1770 single malt helped make an already great distillery into something truly special and truly unique.

As the distillery and the brand has grown, so too have their ambitions. The distillery has enjoyed significant expansion over the years, including new stills, whisky tours, and industry collaborations. As it continues to grow, we can expect big things from this Glasgow-based distillery for 2026.

Aberagie Distillery

From Glasgow’s industrial estates to the Perthshire countryside, we’re now making our way to the Aberagie Distillery.

Located just on the outskirts of Perth, amongst the lush green countryside you’ll find the Aberagie Distillery. This is another new distillery and is one that has been quietly flying under the radar since its conception in 2017. That all looks set to change in 2026, though.

The distillery sits on a 300-acre farm and distils whisky using their very own barley. They encompass everything there is to know and love about barley-to-bottle and have the land, resources, and agricultural ancestry and knowhow needed to produce some very special drams.

Aberagie began distilling in 2017 and have been gradually biding their time, waiting for the perfect time to treat the world to their whisky. That time is nearly upon us, as their inaugural release of their single malt Scotch will take place in March of this year, so mark it on your calendars.

Luss Distillery

Owned by the Loch Lomond Group, and perched on Loch Lomond’s West Bank, the Luss Distillery is another one to keep your eyes on this year.

What I really like about Luss is the fact that it’s all about feeling and experiencing whisky as a whole. The distillery isn’t just about producing fantastic whisky, it’s about allowing whisky lovers such as ourselves, to experience it in all its glory.

The distillery was opened in 2025 and is located partially on the site of a converted smokehouse. It offers picturesque views, whisky tours, tastings and experiences, dining options, a gift shop, a distillery bar, and even a botanical lab.

With immersive experiences, a variety of whiskies and gins to choose from, and a breath-taking location, it looks set to become one of the most popular distillery experiences in all of Scotland. If you’re planning on visiting, my advice would be to visit sooner rather than later, as this has all the makings of a social media “influencer’s” ideal destination and it won’t remain a hidden gem for long.

Wylye Distillery

Finally, another independent distillery I’ll be keeping tabs on in 2026 is the Wylye Distillery.

Located in Wiltshire’s Wylye Valley, it’s an English whisky distillery founded and operated by Sam Barber, a true whisky lover. The distillery is located on Windmill Farm and focuses on unpeated whisky made from locally grown barley. The water used in the production process is chalk-filtered on site and offers a unique character to the whisky that should really help it to stand out against the competition.

The distillery itself sits on repurposed farm buildings and produces whisky using Forsyth stills built by the world-renowned, fourth generation Forsyth family coppersmiths. What really got me excited, though, was when I learned that they use a traditional floor malting process in the production of the whisky.

Established in 2022, Wylye English whisky is not yet available for purchase, but has all the makings of a true classic. For this reason, Wylye is a distillery worth watching like a hawk in 2026. Seriously, this could be a very special English whisky, but I suppose only time will tell.

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the diverse selection of unique whiskies we currently have in stock.

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.

Tags: 2026distilleries

Greg

My name is Greg, and I’m a brand strategy consultant, writer, speaker, host and judge specialising in premium spirits. My mission is to experience, share and inspire with everything great about whisky, whiskey, gin, beer and fine dining through my writing, my brand building and my whisky tastings.