Benbecula Distillery Makes its Mark at Dubai Whisky Festival and Breaks a Guinness World Record

Benbecula Distillery, a new single malt whisky producer from the Outer Hebrides, made history this past weekend by helping break a Guinness World Record in Dubai at MaltLive 2025. The distillery, which began production in May 2024, was invited to attend this whisky festival at the Emirates Golf Club on February 22nd and 23^rd by the event organisers, Malt Society of Arabia. The event celebrates the world of whisky on an international scale, and the organisers planned an engaging two-day event with 250+ expressions, well-known and small, independent brands, panels, and competitions.

Despite being a young distillery with no bottled products yet on the shelves, Benbecula played a pivotal role at the event, sponsoring the Guinness World Record attempt for most nationalities participating in a whisky masterclass. At a time when the whisky industry is working to attract a broader and more diverse audience, this record-breaking moment highlighted how whisky can unite people across cultures, ages, and backgrounds in a shared appreciation of the complex craft.

The Historic Guinness World Record Attempt

The record attempt required representatives from at least 50 nationalities to take part in a 30-minute whisky masterclass. Under the supervision of an official Guinness World Record representative, whisky lovers from 60 countries registered for the class, creating an exciting international milestone in the industry. As the official sponsor of the attempt, Benbecula Distillery’s Master Distiller, Brendan McCarron, led the masterclass. Well-respected in the whisky world, McCarron has built his reputation through decades of work, including brands such as Glenmorangie, Oban, Deanston, Tobermory, and Bunnahabhain.

Given that Benbecula Distillery is still in its early days, they took a unique approach to the tasting samples. First was their new make spirit, the raw, unaged spirit before maturation. Just below 70% ABV, this cask-strength liquid gives a taste of the spirit’s foundation, and it was met with a very positive reception from whisky enthusiasts. The second sample was a special blended malt crafted by McCarron to emulate what Benbecula’s single malt will become after aging. This offered a first glimpse at their signature Outer Hebridean style with gentle smoke, floral notes, and marine character.

After 30 minutes of engaging the group with the wonders of whisky, the Guinness World Record adjudicator took the stage to confirm that the attempt had been successful – MaltLive 2025 had officially set a new world record.

A Significant Moment for Whisky

This monumental achievement reinforced whisky’s global appeal and its ability to bring people together. With thousands of attendees at MaltLive, the enthusiasm for tasting and learning about whisky was clear. This event challenged outdated perceptions about who whisky is for and how it should be enjoyed, proving that whisky culture is evolving and becoming more inclusive.

For Benbecula Distillery, this was a significant moment. As a small, independent distillery from the Outer Hebrides, they found themselves in the spotlight at the whisky industry’s largest global gatherings in the region. Their participation not only introduced their unique spirit to a wider audience but also solidified their reputation as a bold new name to watch in the whisky industry.

Benbecula Distillery 2025 Cask Offering

Beyond the Guinness World Record, Benbecula Distillery attended MaltLive to introduce its cask ownership programme. The distillery was invited to the event by Malt Society of Arabia, the event organisers, whose relationship began last year by purchasing many casks from the 2024 offering. To continue with cask sales, Benbecula promoted their 2025 cask offering at the festival. They are only offering three years of cask offerings, with 2025 being the second of three total, creating an exclusive opportunity for customers to own a Benbecula cask and be a part of the brand’s journey. The casks used are chosen specially by Master Distiller McCarron to suit the flavour profiles of the spirit, and are sure to demonstrate his expertise and the distillery’s unique spirit character. With limited availability, those interested in casks are encouraged to reach out to casks@benbeculadistillery.com or visit 2025 Cask Offering | benbecula distillery to secure their opportunity.

The Spirit of the Hebrides

Benbecula Distillery was founded by Angus MacMillan, a local businessman and crofter, with the vision of bringing prosperity and opportunity to the Outer Hebrides while sharing the magic of island whisky with the world. A sense of place is important for the distillery, and through its opening, there have been a significant number of jobs and opportunities created for the population of the islands. The distillery will also help increase tourism economy on the island, providing more than just whisky, but a cultural education and a deeper look at the Outer Hebrides.

Benbecula Distillery crafts “The Spirit of the Hebrides”, using seaweed-enriched Bere barley from Angus’s croft and heather-peated fires, bringing back ancient whisky-making techniques not seen for many years. The visitor centre at the distillery is opening this spring.

From a small island to a world stage, Benbecula Distillery has proven that it’s not just another Scotch whisky brand, but a distillery with a bold vision, deep-rooted heritage, and global ambition.