Campbeltown was once considered to be the whisky capital of the world with 28 distilleries, although there are now just 3 working distilleries in the region which is situated on the Kintyre peninsula, on the west coast of Scotland. The 3 remaining distilleries are Springbank, Glengyle and Glen Scotia, with Springbank responsible for producing the Springbank, Hazelburn and Longrow single malts.
The Glengyle distillery was only recently brought back into use and is expected to produce its first single malt in 2014 which will be called Kilkerran (so as not to be confused with the Highland malt called Glengyle).
Campbeltown whisky is generally full-flavoured and full-bodied with a deep flavour and a slightly salty tang to the finish.
Distilled in 1978, cask number 196. This is a rare super dark, mid aged Springbank. There are also relatively few specific examples of Springbank from the late seventies so this should be a fascinating and pretty uncompromising dram. It looks dangerous. More Details
Released back in 2008 this came as a very welcome surprise at the time. Lighter than the recent ongoing release, this was a one off bottling from a small batch of refill casks. Stunningly coastal, fruity and peaty in a style that is inimitably Campbeltown. One that every serious whisky lover should try and taste at least once. More Details
This private bottled and rare Springbank 10yo is an interesting variant on the standard 10yo and should be pretty fantastic, coastal stuff from that world class distillery. More Details
This one is from the early nineties and is another of these old style younger OB Springbanks that are usually fantastic drams. Bottle aging should be starting to take effect by now and due to the higher standard bottling strengths that Springbank have always pursued, this usually means more fruit, complexity, metal and peat. More Details
Another of these great official 12yo bottlings of Springbank. This one comes from the late 1980s and should be full on oils, coastal notes, fresh peat and wax. Wonderful, old style Campbeltown whisky. More Details
Ceramic decanters are tricky beasts at the best of times but this series from Springbank that was bottled during the early nineties is generally very consistent and all of them from the 10yo to the 21yo that they bottled have been excellent, fruit heavy, luscious drams. This 12yo is no exception. More Details
This old 15yo from the early 1990s is a very different beast from the current 15yo. Much more bourbon driven and with a greater emphasis on the salty, leafy, oily and industrial aspects of the distillate. A great and perilously drinkable dram. More Details
Another of these great early 90s Springbank 15yo OBs. These had much more refill wood influence than the current 15yo so expect much more oils, green fruit and naked mineral notes. Fantastic whisky. More Details
This special bottling was released to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Springbank Distillery. It is a surprisingly mature and oily expression for only 12 years of age. Highly recommended and should be one of those drams that shows big improvement with some time in the bottle. More Details
This was another one off bottling done in 2009 that was composed of 80% Sherry and 20% Bourbon casks. Another minor briny masterpiece from the far flung peninsula of Campbeltown. More Details
These old dumpies of Springbank under the Cadenhead's label were always stunning whiskies. Thick, wild, coastal and full of fat, old school personality. More Details
Considering this whisky has spent its life in rum hoggies it is surprisingly balanced with the rum influence being very soft and well integrated. The Springbankiness is still very much here in this one which is always good news. More Details
This Port Wood expression was a bit of a sleeper at the time of release but seems to have become one of these snowball drams that just seems to pick up more fans as time goes by. The combination of sweet red fruits and more aromatic traditional Springbank characteristics seems to be a big winner in this instance. Dangerously quaffable stuff. More Details
A very rare 20yo Springbank that was bottled back in the early nineties at 50%. Given the distillation era and the general reputation of Springbank at the time there is no reason to think this should be anything other than fantastic. More Details