The FIFA World Cup 2026 will kick off on Thursday 11 June, with Scotland’s first game taking place in the early hours of Sunday 14 June.
It’s been a long 28 years since the men’s team last played at the World Cup so to mark the occasion there have been a number of special whisky releases.
From a rare and ‘special’ 28 year old lowland whisky to a charity release and a 35ml bottling ideal for travels, we’ve taken a look at some of the Scotch whiskies you can still buy to toast Scotland’s triumphant return to the world stage.
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Auchentoshan has released a 28-Year-Old single malt whisky, marking 28 years since the Scotland men’s team last played in the world’s biggest tournament.
With only approximately 200 bottles available to buy exclusively at the distillery, each will be filled by hand, directly from an ex-red wine barrique cask. Visitors on the distillery’s introductory ‘Origins Tour’ will also receive a free dram of this aged expression between 11 June and 19 July.
Auchentoshan is known for its triple distilled, extra smooth and approachable range, including American Oak, 12-Year-Old Double Cask, and Three Wood.
The 28-Year-Old stays true to these characters, with age and cask type defining the spirit further. Matured in the first-fill ex-red wine barrique for nearly three decades, the whisky delivers a rich and vibrant character, with notes and flavours including milk chocolate, vanilla, raspberry, pink grapefruit, cinnamon and allspice.
Susan Williamson, Auchentoshan’s distillery manager, said of the release: “We rarely release whisky at this age, but it feels like a moment worth marking properly.
“For fans in Glasgow and across Scotland, it has been a long wait, and we want to offer something memorable for people to come together and celebrate. This whisky is special and reflects the significance of the occasion – it hasn’t happened for 28 years!”
Auchentoshan 28-Year-Old will be bottled at 49.1% ABV and will be available exclusively from the Auchentoshan distillery from 11 June for £390 RSP, while stocks last.
This single malt whisky has been released under the Seven Sons independent bottling label, by 8 Doors Distillery, and as part of the Spirit of Brazil collaboration that’s celebrating Scotland’s footballing ties to the country.
This single cask liquid was personally selected by master blender John Ramsay and distilled in 1998-the same year Scotland last faced Brazil in a FIFA World Cup match.
The 28 year old single malt is a peated Highland expression, with a light smoky flavour and subtle fruit notes.
Only 270 bottles have been released of this whisky, priced at £240. You can find out more and buy here.
Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, whisky specialist Gordon & MacPhail announced the first release in its unique Vintage Moments series, curated box sets of five ultra-rare single malt Scotch whiskies distilled in years that correspond with key life and career milestones.
The inaugural release, which will go on sale in October 2026, celebrates the Vintage Moments of Scottish football legend, Sir Kenny Dalglish.
Vintage Moments by Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies provides the opportunity of owning chapters of Scotland’s liquid history, tailored specifically to the individual. To celebrate this special service, Gordon & MacPhail worked alongside Sir Kenny Dalglish to curate his selection relating to landmark moments in his life.
Just fifteen Sir Kenny Dalglish’s Vintage Moments by Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies box sets, each featuring five 70cl bottles of ultra-rare vintage single malts, will be available for sale this October, when the five chosen vintages, presentation and price will be revealed. An exceptional opportunity for whisky aficionados and football lovers alike.
Interested whisky lovers should register their interest ny emailing private client manager Stephen Rankin on vintagemoments@gordonandmacphail.com. More information including prices and whiskies will be available in October.
Bottled to celebrate Scotland's dramatic qualification, A Belter for America comes in a half-size 35cl bottle with a label design that captures the now famous Scott McTominay
overhead kick against Denmark at Hampden Park, the goal that started Scotland on their way back to the World Cup.
Named in an affectionate nod to Letter to America by Scotland’s other most famous export, The Proclaimers, this whisky is the perfect travel companion for wherever fans are watching the match this summer.
Released by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (the SMWS), the bottle is one of two limited edition expressions marking Scotland's return to the world stage after an absence stretching back to France in 1998.
A Belter for America has undergone additional maturation in a sherry cask, giving it notes of dark-roasted coffee beans, chocolate, caramel and candied fruits, and it is, fittingly, from distillery 28.
Priced at £39, you can buy a bottle here.
Bottled under the Sons of Scotland range from Stirling Distillery, one of Scotland’s smallest, this whisky has been released to celebrate 154 years of Scottish football.
It’s described as a “smooth and well-balanced Speyside blended whisky with bright citrus and Caribbean fruit, fresh green apple on the nose, and a clean, fruity finish.”
Priced at £40, you can buy a bottle here.
Master of Malt recently announced a five-expression limited edition whisky range timed to coincide with a summer of international football - a love letter to the tournaments and the shared moments that unite us - whoever we're cheering for.
The five-expression collection spans English, Scottish and Irish whisky, each bottle kitted out in label artwork by in-house design duo Ben McKeown and Chris Gunter - lovingly inspired by the iconic kits of the Italia '90 and France '98 games - the tournaments a generation still talks about.
The Scottish whiskies are a Highland Distillery 12 Year Old and Ben Nevis 27 year old. The Highland Distillery whisky comes from an unnamed distillery and has been matured in an Oloroso cask. Tasting notes include what the team at Master of Malt say is “everything we love about Scotch whisky, and indeed, the Scottish people themselves.”
Fruity, nutty and terribly friendly on the nose, with roasted nuts, sultanas, salt and sweetness on the palate. A beautifully balanced dram that is as satisfying as it is gluggable.
Priced at £44.95 you can buy a bottle here.
The 27 year old Ben Nevis was distilled at Ben Nevis Distillery in Fort William in December 1998 - the month Scotland last played at a World Cup - this single cask has spent 27 years maturing through refill and refill PX casks before being disgorged in March 2026.
Old Ben Nevis has character, integrity and depth and at just 129 bottles, this is one of the most precious casks in the warehouse.
Layered oak, spice and herbal notes on the nose; tropical fruit, melon rind, molasses and texture on the palate. The finish is complex, graceful and elegant. A tribute to the Tartan Army - and the tournament they've been waiting 27 years to return to.
Priced at 249.95 you can buy a bottle here.
Fife Independent Bottlers (FiB whisky) teamed up with the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal to launch a charity bottling to celebrate Scotland going to the World Cup.
With only 585 bottles of this single grain whisky available, £5 from each sale of the limited edition whisky will be donated to the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal who support children's charities.
The whisky comes from casks that were filled on 6 October 1998 at Strathclyde Distillery. Tasting notes include: toffee, bubblegum, custard slice and a spicy finish.
Priced at £86 you can find out more information here.
This independent bottler, which has a 300 year old family link to distilling, recently launched three whiskies to celebrate Scotland’s return to the World Cup.
These are: a Glen Garioch 28 year old; a 12 year old Tamnavulin and a 28 year old North British single grain distilled on 10 June 1998, the day that Scotland played Brazil in the 1998 World Cup.
A percentage of the profits from the bottlings will be donated to the Tartan Army Children’s Charity.
Scotland’s most northerly mainland distillery, Wolfburn, has released three single malts to celebrate our World Cup return.
Each whisky has been hand bottled in Caithness and each is paired with a group-stage fixture with the collection named ‘drams for the Tartan Army.’
The releases are: A 10 year old with a cream and gold label for Scotland v Haiti.
An 8 year old with a cobalt blue label for Scotland v Morocco and a 12 year old with a golden yellow label for Scotland v Brazil.
Priced at £105 you can find out more and buy here.
