Campbeltown once boasted over 30 distilleries to its name, during the peak of its production in the 19th century, which is in stark contrast to the current three that reside in the area; Springbank, Glen Scotia and Glengyle.
The Springbank Distillery, located in Campbeltown, was founded in 1828 by Willliam Reidon the site of a former illicit still owned by Archibald Mitchell. The Mitchell family's involvement in Campbeltown's distilling goes back further, with mentions of illegal whisky production in the area as early as the late 16th century. Reid would sell the business to his in-laws, John & William Mitchell, in 1837 after coming across financial difficulties. In 1872 John’s son, Alexander Mitchell, would join Springbank. J. & A. Mitchell was founded in 1897 and the distillery ownership was transferred to the company.
The early 20th century saw a dramatic decline in the Scottish whisky industry, impacted by Prohibition in the US and a shift in demand towards lighter styles of whisky. Campbeltown, known for its heavier, oily malts, was hit particularly hard. Springbank, however, survived by adapting and modifying its production methods to create a lighter, less peatier whisky to cater to ever-changing palates. Despite this, financial difficulties led to closures in 1926 and a temporary mothballing between 1979 and 1987, a period dubbed the ‘Whisky Loch’ where the industry oversaw many distillery closures.
A pivotal moment arrived with the distillery's full reopening in 1989. Chairman Hedley G. Wright made the bold decision to focus entirely on the booming single malt market, a move that would define Springbank's future. The re-instatement of the distillery's maltings in 1992 further underlined its dedication to traditional methods.
One of Springbank's unique distinctions lies in being the only Scottish distillery to carry out every stage of the whisky-making process on-site. Springbank produces three distinct styles of single malts, each with its own character: -
- Springbank: This lightly peated malt (12-15 ppm) is distilled two-and-a-half times, resulting in a complex, full-bodied whisky with maritime notes and subtle peat.
- Longrow: Introduced in 1973, this heavily peated (50-55 ppm) expression is double-distilled, creating a robust, smoky whisky paying homage to the heavily peated style prevalent in Campbeltown during the Victorian era.
- Hazelburn: The most recent addition to the Springbank family, first distilled in 1997, Hazelburn is a triple-distilled, unpeated whisky.
Springbank's commitment to quality and traditional production methods, combined with its relatively small production volume (just 750,000 litres per year, in comparison to millions at some of the larger distilleries), has cemented its status as a cult whisky among collectors and connoisseurs. The high demand and limited supply means Springbank bottlings can be hard to find and almost always command high prices on the secondary market.
There have been some exceptional expressions of Springbank single malt, and because of the limited supply of these and the insanely high quality they have remained in high demand. One of the oldest distillates of note is the Springbank 1919 that was bottled at 50 years old in the 1970s. Signatory Vintage are responsible for some stunning releases; such as the Springbank 1969 28yo and the Springbank 1969 27yo. From Cadenhead’s archives there is the spectacular Springbank 1965 Cask 2164 (95pts WF) and the Springbank 1950 30yo Dumpy, whilst the Scotch Malt Whisky Society have had some massive hits with the likes of Springbank 1964 31yo SMWS 27.40 and Springbank 1972 19yo SMWS 27.17 (94pts WF). Other fantastic bottlings include the Springbank 12yo 100 Proof (95pts WF), Springbank 1965 25yo Samaroli Flowers (94pts WF), Springbank 1966 33yo Local Barley Cask 503, Springbank 1966 34yo Juul’s and the Springbank 1970 34yo Prestonfield House (90pts WF).
Springbank holds a unique and significant place in the history of Scotch whisky. Renowned for its traditional methods and distinct expressions, it's a hardened survivor of a bygone era and now proudly holds a torch for the revival of Campbeltown as a prominent whisky region.
Brief Timeline of Springbank Key Events: -
- 1828: William Reid was granted a licence for Springbank distillery
- 1837: Reid sells the distillery to in-laws, John & William Mitchell
- 1872: William departs and John’s son, Alexander, joins Springbank
- 1897: J & A Mitchell is founded
- 1926: The Springbank distillery closes
- 1933: Production at Springbank recommences
- 1960: Springbank malting are closed
- 1969: J & A Mitchell purchases the independent bottler, Wm Cadenhead
- 1973: Ledaig production begins
- 1979: The distillery is mothballed
- 1987: Springbank restarts production, in a limited capacity
- 1989: Full Production is now back underway
- 1992: The maltings at the distillery are reinstated
- 1997: Production of Hazelburn begins
- 2023: Hedley G. Wright, chairman for over 60 years, passes away
Click here to see our full Springbank single malts range.