Glen Scotia Distillery has announced the second release in its series Icons of Campbeltown. The collection, which launched in 2023 and will feature five whiskies, pays homage to the heritage of Campbeltown.

Each whisky in the series takes inspiration from etchings on the town’s Market Cross. The 14th-century cross is carved with what are said to be tales of Campbeltown’s past, including that of St Michael slaying a first-breathing dragon. The dragon, illustrated by Marvel illustrator Joel Holtzman, appears on the label of Icons of Campbeltown: Release No. 2.

When considering the story, Glen Scotia drew parallels with historic distillery fires. Iain McAlister, distillery manager and master distiller, explained: “Hard times have a way of pulling our distilling community together, much like on December 17th 1899, when Glen Scotia, along with heroic townspeople, fought a fierce blaze at Dalintober distillery and saved it from an early fate. You will find no living saints or dragon slayers in the town now, just a wonderful community that endures against the odds by its prevailing spirit of unity, and this is what our latest Icons of Campbeltown release celebrates.”

The release is bottled at 14 Years Old. Originally matured in American oak, master blender Michael Henry selected Barolo red wine casks for the whisky’s a six-month finishing period. The result, Glen Scotia says, is a smoky whisky with flavours of red candied fruits and berries, with a “subtle maritime salinity” in line with the distillery’s signature style.

Icons of Campbeltown: Release No. 2 (56.8% ABV, RRP £98) is available now via Glen Scotia and select specialist retailers globally.