Campbeltown sits on Scotland’s west coast, known for its deep whisky heritage. Once, it had over 30 distilleries. Now, it has just three, making exceptional Campbeltown single malt whiskies.
For whisky lovers, Campbeltown is a treasure. Its whiskies range from light and grassy to peaty and strong. The area’s unique climate and long traditions make its whiskies special.
Campbeltown’s whisky scene is alive and well, despite its size. Springbank, Glen Scotia, and Glengyle distilleries each add their own touch. They make some of Scotland’s most wanted whiskies. Whether you’re an expert or new to whisky, trying Campbeltown’s best is a journey into Scotland’s whisky history.
Introduction to Campbeltown Whisky Region
Campbeltown is a special place on the Kintyre peninsula, known for its Scottish malt whisky. It was once home to 28 distilleries, earning it the nickname “Whisky Capital of the World.” Now, it has only three distilleries left, but it’s still a key whisky region.
Springbank, Glen Scotia, and Glengyle are the main whisky makers in Campbeltown. Springbank is the biggest, making about 600,000 gallons of spirit each year. Glen Scotia produces 125,000 gallons, and Glengyle, which reopened in 2004, makes the Kilkerran brand.
Kintyre whiskies have a wide range of flavors. You can find everything from light and grassy to peaty and strong. Springbank alone has 17 different types, showing the area’s variety. Glen Scotia’s main whiskies include the 15-year-old, Double Cask, and cask-strength Victoriana.
The whisky industry in Campbeltown is coming back to life. Two new distilleries are being built, showing more people’s interest in this historic place. As a protected area for Scotch Whisky making, Campbeltown keeps shaping the Scottish malt whisky scene.
The Three Pillars of Campbeltown Whisky
Campbeltown’s whisky legacy shines through three key distilleries. Springbank, Glen Scotia, and Glengyle are the heart of the region’s whisky tradition. They make single malts with unique tastes.
Springbank whisky is known for its traditional ways. They use old methods and smaller stills. This makes a strong, full-bodied whisky that shows Campbeltown’s whisky spirit.
The Glen Scotia distillery takes a lighter approach. Yet, their whiskies still show the region’s coastal taste and strength. Glen Scotia was named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year in 2021, showing its success.
Glengyle is the newest, reopening in 2004 after 80 years. It makes Kilkerran whisky, honoring Campbeltown’s traditions while offering new tastes. Its comeback shows the renewed interest in Campbeltown’s whisky style.
These three distilleries make about 2.25 million liters of whisky each year. They share practices like wooden washbacks and certain mash tuns. This creates the ‘funk’ taste in Campbeltown malts. This makes their whisky stand out in Scotland, offering a unique taste experience.
Springbank Distillery: A Campbeltown Icon
Springbank Distillery is a key part of Campbeltown’s whisky history. It was started in 1828 by Archibald Mitchell. Even when Campbeltown’s distilleries dropped from 30 to just two by 1934, Springbank kept going.
Springbank whisky is made with great attention to detail. This distillery is special in Scotland because it does everything on its own grounds. From making traditional barley to bottling the final product, Springbank does it all.
- Springbank: Lightly peated at 14ppm
- Longrow: Heavily peated at 40ppm, an Islay-style variant
- Hazelburn: Unpeated, offering a different flavor profile
Springbank focuses on quality over quantity. They use local barley, which makes about 340-370 liters of spirit per tonne. This results in complex, full-bodied whiskies with a hint of the sea.
The Springbank Green 12-year-old is a standout. Made from organic barley and aged in ex-bourbon barrels, it shows the distillery’s skill in making top-notch peated Campbeltown drams.
Glen Scotia: The Hidden Gem of Campbeltown
Glen Scotia distillery has been making whisky since 1832, making it one of Scotland’s oldest. It’s a coastal Scotch whisky maker from Campbeltown. Once, Campbeltown had over 30 distilleries, but now, only Glen Scotia and Springbank are left.
Glen Scotia’s whiskies are known for their fruity taste and oily feel. The sea adds salty and savory flavors, making their whisky unique. They use water from Crosshill Loch and a deep well on site for their flavor.
The Glen Scotia distillery offers a variety of expressions:
- 10-year-old
- 15-year-old
- 18-year-old
- 25-year-old (awarded Best Whisky in the World at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition)
- Double Cask (no age statement)
- Victoriana (cask strength)
Glen Scotia makes 540,000 liters of pure alcohol every year. Their single dunnage warehouse can hold up to 7,500 casks. This gives them plenty of space for aging their spirits. They were named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards for their quality.
For those interested in the charm of Irish whiskey, Glen Scotia offers a unique taste. It shows the wide range of flavors in Celtic whiskies.
Glengyle Distillery and Kilkerran Whisky
Glengyle Distillery is one of three active distilleries in Campbeltown. It was started in 1872 and brought back to life in 2000. They make the famous Kilkerran whisky, a Campbeltown single malt loved by whisky fans.
Kilkerran offers different flavors in their whiskies. Their main 12-year-old is lightly peated and aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. It’s bottled at 46% ABV, without chill filtration or added color.
For those who like a stronger taste, Kilkerran’s Heavily Peated Single Malt Batch 8 is perfect. It costs $105.99 and shows the distillery’s skill in making unique Campbeltown whiskies.
- Kilkerran 12 Year: A balanced expression with light peat influence
- Kilkerran 8 Year Cask Strength: A potent offering for whisky aficionados
- Kilkerran Heavily Peated: Bold and smoky, perfect for peat lovers
Kilkerran whiskies have different prices, with the 12-year-old costing between $46 to $100. Prices in the US are often higher because of supply chain issues. Buyers might find better deals once shipping gets easier.
Best Campbeltown Scotch: Top Picks for Whisky Enthusiasts
Campbeltown malts have a unique taste that makes them stand out. They offer a wide range of flavors, from light and fruity to rich and smoky. Here are some top picks that whisky lovers should try.
Springbank 15 Year Old is a top choice from Campbeltown. It has a complex taste with hints of dark chocolate, dried fruits, and a touch of smoke. At 46% ABV, it’s strong but not too overpowering.
Glen Scotia Victoriana is another great option. It’s a non-age-statement whisky with a spicy flavor from being aged in heavily charred oak casks. With an ABV of 54.2%, it’s ideal for those who like stronger drinks.
- Kilkerran 12 Year Old: A balanced expression with notes of vanilla, citrus, and light peat
- Longrow 18 Year Old: A heavily peated offering with a rich, oily texture
- Hazelburn 10 Year Old: An unpeated, triple-distilled whisky with a light and fruity character
Campbeltown malts offer a variety of flavors. Whether you like smoky or fruity tastes, there’s a whisky for you. These whiskies, with an average ABV of 45.33%, are full of flavor.
Tasting Notes: Exploring Campbeltown Flavor Profiles
Campbeltown whiskies have a wide range of flavors for every taste. They go from light and fruity to strong and smoky. The Gauldrons, a mix of Campbeltown single malts, shows this variety with its interesting flavors.
Peated Campbeltown drams often have a salty taste and a hint of smoke, similar to smoky Islay-style Scotch. The Gauldrons mix sweet and savory flavors, like salted caramel. It also has vanilla, oak spices, and a hint of perfume, ending with a cinder toffee taste with a bit of smoke.
Springbank is a key part of Campbeltown whisky. Its 10-year-old expression, at 46% ABV, gives a classic taste of the area. For those who like stronger flavors, the Springbank 11 Local Barley at 55.1% ABV is more intense.
- Common tasting notes: maritime saltiness, light smoke, citrus, apple, vanilla, oak
- Heavier peat notes: found in some Springbank and Longrow expressions
- The Gauldrons: sweet, salty, oaky, spicy with cinder toffee and milk chocolate notes
Exploring Campbeltown whiskies opens up a world of flavors. You’ll find everything from light, fruity drams to strong, smoky ones. Each sip invites whisky lovers to explore the unique taste of this historic Scottish region.
Campbeltown Single Malt vs. Other Scottish Regions
Campbeltown was once a giant in the whisky world. Now, it’s a special part of Scotland’s malt whisky scene. With only three distilleries, it’s a shadow of its former self. But, these whiskies are still powerful and stand up to others.
Speyside has over 60 distilleries and makes more than 60% of Scotland’s single malts. The Highlands has more than 25 distilleries, making a quarter of the country’s whisky. Islay, with less than ten distilleries, even beats Campbeltown in number.
But it’s not just about how many there are. Campbeltown single malts have a unique taste. They mix sea air, light smoke, and fruit flavors. This makes them different from Islay’s peaty whiskies and the lighter ones from the Lowlands.
This special taste makes Campbeltown’s whisky stand out. It’s a small but important part of Scotland’s whisky world.