Whisky Copywriter & Educator - Crafting blogs, articles, sales pages and web content for whisky brands to help with SEO, website traffic and sales. Sharing Scotch whisky secrets with the world. 🥃
The Campbeltown region. 🥃 It’s tiny. In fact, it’s the smallest of the 5 Scotch whisky producing regions, but once a thriving hub of Scotch whisky production. Where is Campbeltown? The Campbeltown region is located by the Campbeltown Loch on the remote Kintyre peninsula of western Scotland. How many distilleries belong in the Campbeltown region? Three. Sorry, three? 😲 Yes, you read that correctly. They are Springbank Distillers Ltd, Glen Scotia and Glengyle Distillery. Why is the Campbeltown region so small? It once was a thriving region of whisky production with more than 30 distilleries in the area. However, the effects of WW1 and WW2 as well as the American prohibition took its toll on the region and distilleries struggled to continue. For many years, the region’s distilleries amounted to just two – Glen Scotia and Springbank - but in November 2000 Glengyle (which had originally closed in 1925) re-opened its doors, producing whisky under the name of Kilkerrin. Are any other distilleries set to open? Yes, Witchburn Distillery, Dal Riata Distillery, and The Machrihanish Distillery are set to open in the coming years. Does Campbeltown whisky have a particular flavour profile? Not really. It produces whisky that encompasses many different flavour profiles from fruit to spice and even a bit of smokiness. Can I visit? Definitely. In fact, it’s a great region to visit. A visit to one of the distilleries is like stepping back in time 150 years, as little has changed in terms of production methods since then. In fact, Springbank even has a malting floor, which is a very rare thing these days. Any festivals I should know about? Yes, every year in May the town hosts the Campbeltown Malts Festival where the distilleries, and Wm Cadenhead Ltd (Scotland’s oldest independent bottler) throw open their doors for tours, masterclasses, live music and special bottlings. Are you a fan of Campbeltown whisky? Have you visited before? Let me know in the comments. 💫 FOLLOW me for more whisky-related insights. 🔗 CONNECT with me if you are interested in content for your business, brand or website. #whisky #scotchwhisky #scotland
Giancarlo Lanny I think must have driven past here when I was on my way to stay with you guys on holiday in Kintyre. Or do I remember that wrong?
Emma Gibbs Beyond perusing and investing, both my hobbies, I love the scotch industry for the way it sets examples in sustainability deeply rooted in local traditions. I’m sending you a connection request and hope to stay in touch.
We also have events throughout the festival with Watt Whisky. It is a great week in the town and plenty for everyone to do.
Very good information infact whisky from this region is declining, Glen Scotia is preferred choice hard find Springbank in our region.
Another great article Emma.
Like it
Visitor Experience Manager and Brand Ambassador at Loch Lomond Group
8moI would argue that Campbeltown is the only one of the five regions that does actually have a distinct flavour profile. Historically due to the size of the distilleries, they tended to have smaller stills allowing a higher percentage of the heavier spirits into the receiver creating an oily character to the spirit and bringing the “Campbeltown funk”. On top of that you tend to have a salty character, vanilla from a lot of bourbon use and often a bit of spice.