Raymond Davidson, creator of the Glencairn Glass, hosted a celebratory dinner at The Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh to mark the 25th anniversary of the official whisky glass. The intimate gathering reunited industry legends, including Richard Paterson OBE (The Dalmore), David Stewart MBE (William Grant & Sons), John Ramsay (formerly of Edrington), and whisky writer Charlie MacLean MBE. These industry figures had originally helped Davidson develop the glass when he first designed it in 2000.
One face was, sadly, absent from the event. The late Michael Jackson, the esteemed whisky writer, was the first to endorse the Glencairn Glass, and his early support proved instrumental in its success.
Robert Hicks, formerly of Allied Distillers (now Pernod Ricard), was also an original supporter but could not attend the celebration.
Since its creation, more than 50 million Glencairn Glasses have been sold globally across distilleries, bars, and homes.
The company now sells over 5 million glasses annually in international markets.
The glass was designed to enhance both the aroma and flavor of whisky, with Davidson working closely with Scotland’s master blenders and industry experts to refine the concept before launching at Whisky Live London.
“When I first sketched the concept for the Glencairn Glass, I wanted to create something that truly brought out the best in whisky,” said Raymond Davidson. “The input from incredible Master Blenders, whisky friends and legends in the industry was invaluable – and it’s been a joy to celebrate with them again, 25 years on.”
The Glencairn Glass has earned numerous accolades including the Queen’s Award for Innovation (2006), the Queen’s Award for International Trade (2012 and 2017), and the Malt Advocate Industry Leader Award.
Trending Content
The anniversary dinner forms part of ongoing celebrations for family-run Glencairn Crystal, founded by Raymond Davidson over 40 years ago and now operated by his sons Paul and Scott Davidson.
Julie Trevisan-Hunter, marketing director at The Scotch Whisky Experience, where the dinner was hosted, said: “It has been a pleasure working with Glencairn over the past 25 years, and hosting this very special celebration is a real honour. Raymond, Paul, and Scott have been part of the whisky family for so long that it’s hard to imagine the industry without them. Their commitment and support genuinely matter to all of us who care about Scotch.”
Trevisan-Hunter continued: “The Glencairn Glass fits perfectly with our mission to help the world fall in love with Scotch whisky. Every visitor who comes through our doors heads home with the right glass in hand to continue their Scotch whisky journey, remembering their time with us, and sharing the stories of their travels.”
