Discover the top 10 Scottish alcoholic drink brands in Scotland 2025
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- TENNENT’S
To be ranked among the best of the best in Scotland’s alcohol scene is an impressive goal to achieve and Tennent’s continues to prove itself worthy of the title.
Taking home the number one spot once again in 2025, Tennent’s as a brand continues to remain a humble, yet popular tin for many of Scotland’s adult consumers.
2. WHYTE & MACKAY
Whyte & Mackay’s highlight of 2025 would be its partnership with radio legend, Ken Bruce on his Greatest Hits Radio show, where the brand activated social media to encourage listeners to post their favourite ‘Dad Joke’ to win Whyte & Mackay merchandise.
3. THE FAMOUS GROUSE
Despite The Famous Grouse having flown from the roost this year, the brand has still remained a firm favourite with many consumers as it switched hands from Edrington UK to William Grant & Sons (WG&S).
The whisky brand was welcomed into WG&S’s expansive portfolio of spirits with open arms in summer 2025, which already housed the likes of Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin and Monkey Shoulder.
Edrington first announced its plans to sell the whisky brand in 2024, which moved over to the spirits giant alongisde Naked Malt Scotch Whisky.
At the time of the final sale to WG&S, Søren Hagh, chief executive officer at WG&S, said: “I am delighted to complete this acquisition and welcome The Famous Grouse into our portfolio. It is a remarkable Scottish brand with rich history and a strong market position in a number of countries. Over the coming years, we will build on this strong foundation and work to evolve the brand into a true global icon.”
The Famous Grouse core range hosts a quartet of expressions consisting of its core The Famous Grouse whisky blend, alongside The Famous Grouse Smoky Black and The Famous Grouse Sherry Cask.
The latter two take the base Famous Grouse spirit and spin a twist on the two to deliver some unique whisky drams with Smoky Black showcasing a signature blend of hand-selected whiskies that have been enhanced with smoky notes and fruity flavours.
Meanwhile, the Sherry Cask offers a flavourful blend of whiskies that have been matured in Spanish oak casks that once held sherry, delivering flavours of the rich citrus spice of poached pears and fresh orange with a hint of dark chocolate.
Finally, there is the premium end The Famous One dram, providing a smooth and honey-flavoured dram for consumers to enjoy.
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4. GLEN’S VODKA
Glen’s Vodka has firmly established itself as the go-to Scottish vodka choice for celebrations with consumers, regarded for its good-for-value price point and consistency in flavour.
The brand’s Scottish roots run deep with the brand and can be seen across its marketing support for the Scottish Premier Football League as its partnership continued throughout 2025.
5. MCEWAN’S
A history that spans 169 years has built a strong reputation for the McEwan’s brand as it climbs up two places this year.
The brand clearly resonates well with Scottish consumers, with its “extremely drinkable, full-bodied and sweet” brew. And it’s these characteristics in particular that keep the brand front of mind for plenty of Scottish consumers across the country as it continues to perform well in Worldpanel’s report.
6. BREWDOG
BREWDOG has enjoyed growth this year partly due to its commitment to NPD and also its innovation around no and low-alcohol drinks.
Since its nation-wide launch at the start of the year, Wingman (4.3% ABV) has tapped into the growing session-IPA occasion and is now the No.4 craft beer brand and the biggest craft beer launch in the last two years, according to IRI Marketplace.
7. INNIS & GUNN
Premium options across the off-trade can be ideal ways to help elevate the night in and plenty of Scots have been looking to Innis & Gunn for this.
The Edinburgh-born brand has been in the public eye across 2025, keeping it to the forefront of consumers’ minds throughout the year including tie-in events with massive local events such as the Celtic Connection festival in Glasgow, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Genesis Scottish Open.
8. TAMNAVULIN
Tamnavulin is preparing to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2026 and is planning to launch not one, but two limited edition expressions.
“We feel we are able to experiment and be creative with our whisky making,” said a spokesperson. “Being named as one of the top Scottish brands is a testament to our passionate and dedicated team of skilled craftsmen, who balance tradition and modernity to create a signature Speyside single malt whisky.”
9. JURA
Jura’s 2025 involved it researching what consumers actually felt about whisky and it found that many people saw it as too confusing.
To help communicate Jura’s taste profile in an easy-to-understand way, the brand came up with a clear and concise taste device on back of pack that instantly communicated its flavour profile and reflected the fruity and balanced house style.
10. EDINBURGH GIN
ROUNDING out the top 10 of alcohol brands this year, we see a gin brand finally come back into play. After dropping out from the countdown in 2021, Edinburgh Gin marks the first gin brand to re-enter Worldpanel’s top 10 since then.
And it’s been a big year for the brand, too. Edinburgh Gin opened its new distillery in the capital earlier this year, showcasing a modern approach to the classic spirit.
