Spiritfilled’s IWSC success recognised by the Scottish Parliament
We were delighted to receive a letter from Claire Baker MSP congratulating Spiritfilled on our recent success at the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
The letter followed a motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament recognising the Gold Outstanding award achieved by our Mythical Beasts Aberlour 13-year-old single malt. The whisky received 98 points at the 2026 IWSC, placing it within the competition’s highest award category.
A Gold Outstanding whisky
The Mythical Beasts Aberlour was matured for 13 years and finished in a Pedro Ximénez sherry cask. That final period of maturation brought additional richness to the spirit, with the IWSC judges highlighting notes of tobacco leaf, cocoa nibs, coffee beans and honey.
Gold Outstanding is reserved for whiskies scoring between 98 and 100 points. Gold-winning entries are also tasted again by an independent member of the IWSC Spirits Judging Committee before the result is confirmed.
Almost 550 Scotch whiskies received medals at the 2026 competition, but only six were awarded Gold Outstanding. Our Aberlour was among them.
Recognised at Holyrood
The parliamentary motion, titled Celebrating Fife-based Spiritfilled’s Success at International Wine and Spirit Competition, was lodged by Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, on 1 July 2026.
It recognised the whisky’s performance at the IWSC, as well as Spiritfilled’s roots in Newburgh and the company’s fifth anniversary. The motion was subsequently supported by eight MSPs from across the political spectrum: Jackie Baillie, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Murdo Fraser, Julie MacDougall, Fulton MacGregor, Stuart McMillan and Paul Sweeney.
In her letter to co-founders Russell Spratley and Ross Archer, Claire Baker described the award as a special achievement and wished everyone at Spiritfilled continued success.
The full Scottish Parliament motion S7M-00546 can be read online.
Marking five years of Spiritfilled
Russell and Ross founded Spiritfilled in 2021 with the aim of selecting and bottling distinctive Scotch whiskies that offered something genuinely worth exploring.
The Mythical Beasts Aberlour formed part of a collection of five single-cask releases created to mark our fifth anniversary. Receiving 98 points was already an important moment for the team. Seeing that result recognised in the Scottish Parliament, and receiving such a thoughtful letter from our local MSP, made it still more memorable.
Independent bottling is built on careful cask selection, patience and an understanding of when a whisky is ready to be shared. This award is welcome recognition of that work, but it also gives us added motivation for what comes next.
We would like to thank Claire Baker and the MSPs who supported the motion, as well as the IWSC judges and everyone who has supported Spiritfilled during our first five years.
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