Fettercairn Distillery has announced a partnership with The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award as headline sponsor – the latest step in the distillery’s growing commitment to supporting Scottish music and the artists shaping it.
The partnership sees Fettercairn back Scotland’s national music prize. Now in its 15th year, The SAY Award celebrates the cultural impact and contribution of outstanding Scottish albums.
Last year, the 200 year-old distillery launched the Vanguard series which explored what is possible in flavour-led whisky making and partnered with previous SAY winners, Barry Burns of globally renowned rock band Mogwai and multi-award-winning singer/songwriter Kathryn Joseph.
Thom Watt, Global Brand Controller at Fettercairn, said,
“Last year, we worked with two iconic Scottish artists, Kathryn Joseph and Barry Burns, on Lorica – a specially commissioned piece of music inspired by the tasting notes of our Vanguard whisky. That project showed us just how much whisky and music have in common and we look forward to continuing to explore that connection.
“We are passionate believers in celebrating the creativity, ingenuity and inclusive culture of Scotland, not to mention the joy of discovering a life-changing new album. These shared values are why everyone at Fettercairn is absolutely delighted to be supporting The SAY Award as it returns to Dundee, only 35 miles from the distillery, in its landmark 15th year. We can’t wait to support and celebrate some fantastic Scottish albums.”
Produced by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), The SAY Award Ceremony will return to Dundee’s Caird Hall on Thursday 5th November 2026, where last year’s winner, Kai Reesu, will return to perform in front of over 1,500 fans and industry professionals.
Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), added,
“It’s hard to believe that 2026 marks 15 years of SAY. To date, 280 longlisted albums have been celebrated and championed, and over £425,000 in prize money has been distributed to outstanding Scottish artists.
“Music and whisky have always gone hand in hand for me – there’s nothing quite like putting on a record with a dram in hand, and I know that’s true for so many people across Scotland and beyond. That’s what makes a partner like Fettercairn so fitting for SAY – they understand that shared culture of discovery, whether that’s a new whisky or a new favourite album.
“We’re delighted to be returning to Dundee’s Caird Hall this November for a landmark celebration, and to be welcoming Fettercairn on board as our headline partner.”
Lorica by Barry Burns and Kathryn Joseph is available across streaming services, but can be listened to here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQlq3QOsPGU
Tickets for the ceremony are available here: https://www.dundeebox.co.uk/Online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=58777422-5565-48E4-9BC6-19A2DE603EA6
Artists can submit eligible albums for free now via www.sayaward.com – submissions close 11.59pm Thursday 30th July 2026