2025 Haggis & Whisky Festival
Sunday 30th November 2025 – St Andrews Day
At the historic Oban Distillery.
The Argyll Golden Haggis Award – Judges Choice
The Golden Haggis Awards are a prestigious haggis competition held annually in Oban, as part of the Oban Winter Festival. The awards take place on the last Sunday in November at the historic Oban Distillery and the 2025 event is scheduled for Sunday 30th November – St Andrews Day.
The competition attracts haggis makers from all over Scotland and even England, with entries including Scottish champions and former Golden Haggis Award winners. The event takes place in the cask room at Oban Distillery, where haggis makers compete for the coveted titles.
The awards include two categories, with the main prizes being the Golden Haggis Award (Judges’ Choice) which runs alongside the People’s Choice Award. The People’s Choice Award involves the visiting public participating in the tasting to vote for their favourite haggis. Entry is limited to one per business, and each entry must be made on premises inspected by their Local Authority.
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
- Entries will be limited to one per business.
- Each entry must be made on premises inspected by their Local Authority EHO, Food Standards Scotland or the Food Standards Agency.
- Each entry must consist of one ball haggis of 500g minimum weight.
- Entries may be in either natural or synthetic casings and the judges will be asked to concentrate on what’s inside the casing.
- Entries, successful or otherwise, will not be returned.
- The entries will be judged by a panel of judges.
- A winner will be announced at the prize giving at 3.30pm on Sunday 30th
- The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence can be entered into after the event.
- An entry fee of £15.00 per entry should be submitted to the Oban Winter Festival along with a completed entry form by Friday 8th November 2025.
- No late entries will be accepted.
- All products must be submitted by 11.30am on Sunday 30th November 2025 to the competition desk at the Oban Distillery. Any being sent to Jacksons must be delivered by Saturday 29th.
- Titles used in promotion must include the year of award
The Golden Haggis Award will be judged alongside “The People’s Choice’ Award
If you are not coming to Oban, you must send your entry to arrive by 4.00pm on
Saturday 23rd November to Jackson Butchers, 2 George Street, Oban PA34 5RX
Tel: 01631 562016
ENTRIES CLOSE 7th NOVEMBER 2025
The Peoples Choice Award
A COMPETITION FOR THE PUBLIC TO DECIDE WHO WINS.
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
- Entries will be limited to one per business.
- Each entry must be made on premises inspected by their Local Authority EHO, Food Standards Scotland or the Food Standards Agency.
- The entries will be judged and voted for by the public, one vote per person.
- The winner gaining the most votes will be announced at the prize giving at 3.30pm on Sunday 30th
- No correspondence can be entered into after the event.
- An entry fee of £15.00 per entry should be submitted to the Oban Winter Festival along with a completed entry form by Friday 8th November 2025.
No late entries will be accepted. - Two sticks of haggis, or equivalent (minimum 2.5Kg), must be submitted by 11.30am on Sunday 30th November 2025 at the Oban Distillery.
- The organising committee in Oban will heat and maintain the temperature of the haggis by means of microwave and slow cooker.
- Entrants can display their business name to the public as they sample. A list of entrants with business name, address and contact details will be displayed to assist samplers to source future purchases.
- Voting closes at 3.00pm.
- Titles used in promotion must include the year of award.
- Only People’s Choice Award entrants will be allowed to sell haggis at the event.
The Golden Haggis Award will be judged alongside “The People’s Choice’ Award
If you are not coming to Oban, you must send your entry to arrive by 4.00pm on
Saturday 29th November to Jackson Butchers, 2 George Street, Oban PA34 5RX
Tel: 01631 562016
ENTRIES CLOSE 7th NOVEMBER 2025
Submitting Your Product
Don’t worry about getting your haggis to Oban, use one of these collection points and your haggis will be whisked up to Argyll for you.
If you are using one of our collection points make sure your product is in situ by 10.00am on Saturday 29th November. Friday delivery is possible between 8.00am and 4.30pm.
Collection Points
Boghall Butchers, 65 Margaret Avenue, Bathgate EH48 1SN
David Faulds Butchers, 70 John Finnie St, Kilmarnock KA1 1BS
Courier
If you are using a courier service to get your haggis to Oban, product must be sent to Jacksons Butchers, 2 George Street, Oban PA34 5RX to arrive by 4.00pm on Saturday 23rd November.
Delivery in person is welcome by 11.30am on Sunday 30th November 2025 at the Oban Distillery.
2025 Golden Haggis Award Entry Form Downloads.
Golden Haggis Awards Role of Honour.
Golden Haggis Award
Year | Winner |
---|---|
2024 | Dales Traditional Butchers |
2023 | Dales Traditional Butchers |
2022 | Grants of Taynuilt |
2019 | Minicks of Cupar |
2018 | McCaskies, Wemyss Bay |
2017 | Pickens of Ayr |
2016 | JB Houston, Dumfries |
2015 | McCaskies, Wemyss Bay |
2014 | Grants of Taynuilt |
People’s Choice Award
Year | Winner |
---|---|
2024 | McCaskies, Wemyss Bay |
2023 | Rendalls Online Butcher |
2022 | Grants of Taynuilt |
2019 | Boghall Butchers |
2018 | McCaskies, Wemyss Bay |
2017 | McCaskies, Wemyss Bay |
2016 | McCaskies, Wemyss Bay |
2015 | McCaskies, Wemyss Bay |
2014 | Grants of Taynuilt |