In 2001 Glencairn Crystal solved the problem of identifying the ideal glass for whisky. Designed by Raymond Davidson nearly 25 years earlier, its development involved pulling together the master blenders from the five largest whisky companies and asking them to perfect his initial design. The theme for this year’s competition – in partnership with Scottish Field Magazine and the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival – is “A crime story set in Scotland”. Over 100 stories were entered into the competition – each one comprising of no more than 2000 words. The Glencairn whisky glass is a style of glass intended for drinking whisky, developed and produced by Glencairn Crystal Ltd, in East Kilbride, a town near Glasgow, Scotland since 1981; originally designed by Raymond Davidson, managing director of the company. The shape of the glass is derived from the traditional nosing copitas used in whisky labs around Scotland. [1] The glass design was concluded with the aid of master blenders from five of the largest whisky companies in Scotland. [ citation needed] The glass first came into production in 2001. Since then, additional mini-Glencairns and Canadian Glencairns [2] were introduced. The winner and runner-up were selected by a panel of three judges including Tariq Ashkanani, whose debut novel Welcome to Cooper won last year’s Bloody Scotland Debut Award 2022, and Sharon Bairden, an established book reviewer and author of psychological thrillers; Sins of the Father and You Need Me. The third judge was Glencairn Crystal’s marketing director and experienced crime writer Gordon Brown.

At Glencairn, quality is not just a buzzword for us; it’s our standard. We take great pride in using only the finest crystal materials available. Our rigorous quality assurance process guarantees that each glass meets our standards, ensuring that it will last for countless whisky toasts to come. The glass holds 4 ounces and is wider than the traditional tasting glass. This opening is designed to amplify the aromas and flavor characters of the spirit, like the delicate flavors of Japanese whisky, while avoiding the nose-numbing, overpowering ethanol scent. This design, a result of nine years of tastings and studies, also points out any potential flaws within the liquid. Each glass comes in an elegant burgundy and silver box, making it a go-to gift. If you’re looking to comparatively taste spirits, these glasses let flavors shine their brightest. Keep them on hand for documenting your notes on new bottles. These glasses are incredibly durable, so try breaking these out with a rowdier crowd—the weight and cut suggests you’ve broken out your good glassware, but the durability will keep the glass intact until the last drop in the bottle. The Glencairn Whisky Glass is a revolutionary whisky glass that really lets one savor the taste and complexity of fine whisky. These are great to use for any of your Single Malt Whisky's, Irish Whiskey's, and also your single barrel bourbons. With the tapered mouth, you are able to really smell all of the nuances the whisky has to offer. Any malt advocate will love this glass!Many of the world’s top tasting competitions use this Neat Glass option as their standard tasting glass, and with good reason: Each glass is thoughtfully mouth-blown from lead-free crystal. The heavier weight of the glass—similar to what you’d get from antique crystal—is also a nice touch. Our legacy spans decades, and it’s purely built on the foundation on unwavering commitment to the art of glassware craftsmanship. Each and every one of our Glencairn whisky glasses is more than just a vessel, it’s a masterpiece meticulously crafted by our skilled team.

Allan Gaw is a pathologist by training but now writes full-time. He writes short stories, novel-length historic crime fiction and poetry. He recently won the UK Classical Association Creative Writing Competition, the International Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize and the International Globe Soup 7-day Writing Challenge. Allan lives and works near Glasgow. At Glencairn Crystal, we’re passionate about whisky and craftsmanship. Our personalized whisky glasses are the result of decades of expertise, a commitment to quality, and a love for the art of glassware.Frances is a passionate advocate of lifelong learning. In 2022, she graduated at the age of 60 with an MLitt (First) in Creative Writing from Glasgow University. Having published a number of short stories with disabled protagonists she is particularly interested in characters traditionally overlooked in fiction. Frances lives in Glasgow with her family,

Competition judge, Tariq Ashkanani, commented: “The quality of this year’s stories was incredibly high which made choosing two winners even more difficult. Both The Dummy Railway and The Last Tram to Gorbals Cross stood out from the rest. The Dummy Railway was a particular highlight. From its opening line to its final reveal, it tells a dark tale using wonderful language and sharply-written dialogue. A fantastic story and well-deserved winner!”. Having supported and celebrated Scottish crime writing talent with its ongoing sponsorship of the prestigious McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland Debut crime-writing literary awards since 2020, the Glencairn Glass first launched its very own crime short story competition two years ago. Since its inception, the competition has attracted a huge number of gripping entries from both novice and experienced crime writers all over the world. Champagne, Brandy, Wine... each has its own glass. Yet whisky, the worlds most complex spirit can be found served in anything from hiball tumblers to Paris goblets.

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Allan said: “I am delighted to be placed in such a prestigious writing competition. The Glencairn Glass Short Story Competition was a great opportunity to write in my favourite genre — a historic crime with just a touch of madness”. Frances said; “I was inspired to enter the Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition because it is open to writers at all stages of their journey, from published authors to novices. It is an honour to win such a prestigious prize and I am absolutely chuffed! The theme, ‘A crime story set in Scotland,’ inspired my Glasgow setting, and having a child who finds a murder victim as the narrator, I hoped to show the way violent crime has far-reaching consequences.” The capacity of a typical Glencairn whisky glass is approximately 175ml (6USfloz), and it is intended to hold approximately 50ml (1.7USfloz) of liquid. [ citation needed] Adding a Tasting Cap will help contain the vapors from your whisky to give greater concentrations of aromas whilst nosing and then why not complete your whisky drinking experience with our Glencairn Pipette, perfect for adding a controlled splash of water to your dram. The Glencairn Glass is also available in beautiful gift sets, perfect for any occasion.