Whisky Region: Campbeltown
In the previous two entries we’ve visited the biggest region, Highlands, and the region which hosts the highest number of distilleries, Speyside. Continuing along the same theme, which has turned out (surprisingly even to myself as I did not set out with any particular plan or theme as to the order in which I am presenting the regions) to be extremes, this post will focus on Campbeltown.
Campbeltown is, by quite some margin, the smallest whisky region. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve never heard of it. It is home to a modest three distilleries, two of which are under the same ownership. Its historical importance, however, is far bigger than one would expect – the small town (yep, it’s just the one town) of Campbeltown has once boasted no less than 34 distilleries! Not a bad effort, right? This was during the 19th and early 20th century, during which time the region was known for producing big-bodied, peaty, salty malts. Unfortunately, quantity was allowed to take importance over quality in the early 20th century and nearly all of the distilleries have since shut down.
Of the three distilleries currently in operation, the two that share ownership are Springbank and the newly re-opened Glengyle, the third distillery is Glen Scotia. Glengyle was brought back from the afterlife in 2000, and production recommenced in 2004 with the first bottling due in 2014.
One distillery in particular is of particular interest, namely Springbank, which the most renowned of the three. Springbank is different in several ways, but perhaps primarily because it is one of only three (that I know of, the others being Tobermory and Loch Lomond) distilleries to produce more than one distinct type of whisky. In fact, it has three different whiskies in its range; Hazelburn, Springbank and Longrow. It is also the biggest producer of handmade whisky in Scotland, and claims to be the only distillery to have never chill-filtered any of their whiskies.
Quite an interesting region, then, I only wish I could have visited it during its peak!
