An Edinburgh-based whisky company redefining how people create and own Scotch has been crowned Scotland’s Overall StartUp of the Year 2026 at the UK StartUp Awards.
Leith-founded Tailored Spirits Co. also secured the title of Scotland’s Food & Drink StartUp of the Year, marking a significant milestone in the company’s rapid rise since launching in 2024.
The UK StartUp Awards celebrate the country’s most exciting emerging businesses, recognising founders who demonstrate innovation, commercial success and strong growth potential. Tailored Spirits stood out to judges for its distinctive model, robust early performance and ambitious vision for the future of Scotch whisky.
Judges highlighted the company’s £2.35 million turnover, growing team of eight and its “rapid growth and distinctive approach to creating bespoke spirits for clients and brands”. They added: “The business has turned a specialist product idea into a serious food and drink operation. We recognised a startup with impressive execution, clear market demand and the capability to build a premium Scottish drinks business with wider growth potential.”
Founded by whisky entrepreneurs Adam Harding, Carl Johnstone and Tom Costello, Tailored Spirits Co. was established to open up access to a traditionally exclusive part of the Scotch whisky industry. Rather than operating as a conventional independent bottler, the company guides clients through every stage of creating their own whisky – from sourcing single casks and shaping maturation, to branding, design and bottling.
Today, the business works with private clients, luxury brands, hospitality groups and entrepreneurs globally, creating bespoke Scotch whisky products and experiences tailored to individual stories and ambitions.
Carl Johnstone, co-founder of Tailored Spirits Co., said: “We are incredibly honoured to be named Scotland’s Overall StartUp of the Year. To receive this recognition among so many innovative and ambitious businesses is a proud milestone for our team and a reflection of the journey we’ve been on since launching.
“The evening was made even more special by also being named Scotland’s Food & Drink StartUp of the Year. To be recognised both within our sector and across the wider Scottish startup ecosystem is a tremendous achievement.
“When we founded Tailored Spirits Co., our vision was to create the world’s leading bespoke whisky company, offering clients access to exceptional single-cask Scotch whiskies through a truly personalised experience. These awards are a testament to the dedication of our team, the trust of our clients and the support of our partners and the wider Scottish whisky community. We firmly believe this is just the beginning of the story.”
Co-founder Tom Costello added: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have won both the Food & Drink category and the overall Scottish StartUp award. It’s incredible to think how far we’ve come – from starting out in the back of my wife’s plant shop, with our newborn son being passed between us, to building a business serving clients around the world.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our families, our brilliant team and our network of partners and suppliers. I’m excited to head to Hertfordshire for Ideas Fest to represent Scotland – it’s an honour to fly the flag, and who knows, maybe we can go all the way.”
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, founder of the UK StartUp Awards, said the winners reflect the strength of the UK’s entrepreneurial landscape.
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“All of the winners show exactly why the UK startup economy remains so exciting. They are building businesses with real purpose, commercial credibility and the potential to scale,” he said. “Across every region, founders are creating jobs, opening new markets and challenging established industries.”
Following its success at the Scottish awards, Tailored Spirits Co. will now represent Scotland at the UK StartUp Awards national final in September as part of Ideas Fest.
More information can be found at tailoredspirits.co.uk.
