Stanton & Killeen Rare Muscat Wins Silver at Cellars in the Sky 2026

We have two pieces of exciting news to share, and they happen to go hand in hand.

First: we are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Qatar Airways, consistently ranked among the world’s most awarded airlines. Our Rare Rutherglen Muscat is now available on Qatar Airways flights, which means the next time you are in the air with them, there is a very good chance you can sip a little piece of Rutherglen history at cruising altitude.

Second: it did not take long for the judges to notice.

Cellars in the Sky is one of the aviation industry’s most respected and enduring wine awards, now in its 40th year. Wines are judged blind by a distinguished panel of Masters of Wine and industry experts, assessed for quality, character and suitability for service at altitude. This year, our Rare Rutherglen Muscat was recognised not once but twice.

Silver: First Class Fortified Wine

Our Rare Muscat took Silver in the First Class Fortified Wine category, served on Qatar Airways, receiving 95 points. Judges described it as:

“Intensely sweet with a touch of liquorice, molasses, and old wood. Long, slightly volatile finish.”

— Cellars in the Sky 2026 judges

Silver: Business Class Fortified Wine

The wine also took Silver in the Business Class Fortified Wine category, again served on Qatar Airways, scoring 94 points. Judges noted a:

“Long and rich finish.”

— Cellars in the Sky 2026 judges

What This Means to Us

To have our Rare Muscat poured at 35,000 feet on one of the world’s leading airlines, and recognised by some of the industry’s sharpest palates in the same year, means a great deal to everyone here at Stanton & Killeen.

Rare Muscat is the pinnacle of our Rutherglen Muscat classification. It includes parcels of wine dating back to the 1970s, representing four generations of the Killeen family’s craft in a single bottle. The blending skills required to produce it have been passed down through our family over more than a century of winemaking in Rutherglen, and it is genuinely wonderful to see it appreciated on a stage this size.

If you would like to try it before your next flight, you can find our Rare Rutherglen Muscat at: Stanton & Killeen Rare Muscat 375ml

About Cellars in the Sky

Cellars in the Sky has been recognising excellence in airline wine and beverage programmes for 40 years. The awards are run by Business Traveller magazine and judged by a panel of Masters of Wine and industry experts who assess wines blind for quality, character and in-flight suitability. Winning a medal at Cellars in the Sky is considered one of the highest recognitions a wine can receive in the aviation sector.