Glencairn Glass and Bloody Scotland Awards: 3-Year Sponsorship

Award winning Scottish family business Glencairn Crystal has announced that it will continue its sponsorship of the McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year and the Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year with its famous Glencairn Glass for the next three years.

Glencairn Crystal had produced the trophy for the winner of The McIlvanney Prize over many years and in 2020 it was a natural progression for the company to come on board with its iconic Glencairn Glass as an official sponsor of both the prizes. The new three-year deal agreed will secure the company’s commitment and sponsorship until the end of 2025.

Both of the prestigious literary prizes are awarded as part of the annual Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival which takes place each September in Stirling. This year it will take place from the 15th to the 17th of September. The festival has brought hundreds of new and established crime writers to the stage with exciting events covering criminal topics such as fictional forensics, police procedurals, psychological thrillers and serial killers, along with enthusiastic festival attendees since 2012.

The McIlvanney Prize, in memory of William McIlvanney (the crime-writing ‘Godfather of Tartan Noir’), is Bloody Scotland’s annual prize awarded to the best Scottish crime book of the year.  Last year it received over 80 entries and was won by Alan Parks with ‘May God Forgive’. In 2019 Bloody Scotland also introduced a new prize to recognise new talent emerging within crime writing – the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year - and in 2022 it was awarded to Tariq Ashkanani with ‘Welcome to Cooper’.

The Glencairn Glass’s involvement with the Bloody Scotland literary awards is the perfect fit for the Scottish family owned company. Scottish crime writing, like The Glencairn Glass, is uniquely Scottish with an international following and the company is proud to continue the partnership and to celebrate and reward the rich and talented tradition of Scottish crime fiction.

Kirsty Nicholson, Glencairn’s Design and Marketing Manager, said: “We are delighted to extend our sponsorship of such prestigious writing prizes. Like Scottish crime writing, the Glencairn Glass is a truly global phenomenon and we look forward to working with Bloody Scotland in celebrating great crime novels.”

Bob McDevitt, Director of The Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival said: “We are so pleased that The Glencairn Glass has extended its sponsorship of our prizes, helping us to celebrate new and established voices in Scottish crime writing.”

Both the McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year and the Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year will be awarded on 15th September at the Bloody Scotland Festival. The McIlvanney Prize includes a £1000 prize, a giant Glencairn Glass trophy and nationwide promotion in Waterstones. The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize winner will receive £500 and a Glencairn Star trophy.

In 2021, as well as sponsoring the Bloody Scotland literary prizes, The Glencairn Glass also launched its first ever crime short story competition - in partnership with the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival and Scottish Field Magazine - attracting entries from both novice and experienced crime writers around the world. The competition was launched again for the second time last year and the winners will be announced in March 2023.

The Glencairn Glass is the world’s favourite whisky glass with over 5 million glasses now being sold each year across the globe.

For further information visit:

www.bloodyscotland.com, www.glencairn.co.uk and www.whiskyglass.com