Whisky, Crime, and Scotland: Glencairn is once again on the hunt for the most gripping crime story

Friday, 23 January 2026 at 11:11

What do crime and whisky have in common? Not much, you’d think, though Glencairn, yes, that world-famous glass, does something rather unique. The brand hosts the annual Crime Short Story Competition. So, attention all storytellers!

It’s a yearly competition organized by the Glencairn Glass. The contest is aimed at fans of crime fiction with a love for Scotland.

In partnership with Bloody Scotland

The competition is run in collaboration with the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival, a leading international festival devoted entirely to crime writing. The contest is open to both established authors and newcomers from around the globe.

What are the rules for the Crime Short Story Competition?

The guidelines are clear and tightly defined. Entries must be an original crime story of no more than 2,000 words. The key creative requirement: the protagonist must be from Scotland. Scottish atmosphere and culture should be woven into the heart of the story.

Prize money, publication, and the spotlight

So, what’s at stake? A handsome cash prize. The winner receives £1,000 and their story will be published on the Bloody Scotland website. They’ll also be invited as a guest to appear at the festival in September 2026. The runner-up receives £500. Both winning stories will also be published on the Glencairn Glass website.

Who’s judging the entries?

This year the judging panel has been expanded to include Kirsty Nicholson, Design and Marketing Manager at Glencairn Crystal. She’ll be joined by six influential UK crime book influencers.

According to Nicholson, the standard of entries rises year after year. The rest of the judging panel: Kevin Woolard, Mary Picken, Noelle Holten, Sharon Bairden, Lynsey Adams, and Suze Clarke-Morris.

Whisky and crime: a long-standing partnership

Glencairn Crystal has supported the Bloody Scotland Festival since 2020 and sponsors the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year. It’s a longstanding bond between whisky and literature.

Want to enter?

If you dream of making your mark in the international crime scene, submit your story via whiskyglass.com/crime-short-story-competition. Winners will be announced in the summer. Entries are open until March 31, 2026, and you can register via this page.

For those taking part: best of luck!