Springbank whisky distillery
Springbank is a Campbeltown distillery founded in 1828 and owned by Springbank Distillers (J & A Mitchell). It has been owned by the same family, the Mitchells, since 1837, giving it one of the longest continuous family associations in Scotch whisky. The distillery is located at Well Close, Campbeltown, Argyll PA28 6ET, and is listed in the transcript as active with a capacity of 500,000 litres.
Springbank is notable for having survived when most other Campbeltown distilleries disappeared. Along with Glen Scotia, it was one of the only survivors after the collapse of more than 30 distilleries in the town. Although it closed for a few years in the 1980s, the owners’ commitment to traditional production methods helped preserve both the distillery and its reputation, and in recent years demand for its bottlings has made them difficult to obtain.
The distillery produces three distinct single malts from malted barley prepared on site: Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn. These differ in peat level and distillation regime. Springbank is distilled two and a half times, Longrow is double distilled and more heavily peated, and Hazelburn is unpeated and triple distilled.
House Style
Springbank’s house style is traditional, coastal and characterful. The transcript describes Springbank as producing three distinct malt styles: Springbank at 12-15 ppm, Longrow at 40-45 ppm, and Hazelburn as unpeated. Springbank combines light peat, oily weight and traditional production character; Longrow is the smoky, heavily peated expression; Hazelburn is cleaner and more delicate due to triple distillation and the absence of peat.
Production of Springbank whisky
- Mash tun: 3.5 ton open cast iron mash tun.
- Washbacks: Six wooden washbacks.
- Fermentation: One short fermentation of 72 hours per week, with the rest up to 110 hours.
- Stills: One wash still and two spirit stills.
- Condensation: Ordinary condensers are used except in the first spirit still, where a worm tub is used.
- Heating: The wash still is unique in Scotland, fired by both an open oil-fire and internal steam coils.
- Malting: All barley is malted on site.
- Peating: Springbank uses 6 hours of peat smoke and 30 hours of hot air; Longrow uses 48 hours of peat smoke; Hazelburn is unpeated.
- Production plan for 2024: 6 mashes per week, producing 210,000 litres of Springbank and 25,000 litres each of Longrow and Hazelburn.
Springbank factsheet
| Name | Pronounced | AKA | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springbank | SPRING-bank | Campbeltown | |
| Country of Origin | Status | Active | Whisky Type |
| Scotland | Active | 1828 - Present | Malt |
| Website | Tours Available | Owned by | Parent Group |
| Springbank | Not Available | Independent |
Springbank equipment & site
| Condensers | Worm tub |
|---|---|
| Setting | Coastal |
| Also | Malts its own barley |
What Springbank makes
Whisky
- Springbank 10
- Springbank 15
- Springbank 18
- Longrow
- Hazelburn
Shop: online and at the distillery.
Springbank Timeline:
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- 1828The Reid family, in-laws of the Mitchells, founds the distillery
- 1837The Reid family encounters financial difficulties and John and William Mitchell buy the distillery
- 1897J. & A. Mitchell Co Ltd is founded
- 1926The depression forces the distillery to close
- 1933The distillery is back in production
- 1960Own maltings ceases
- 1979The distillery closes
- 1985A 10 year old Longrow is launched
- 1987Limited production restarts
- 1989Production restarts
- 1992Springbank takes up its maltings again
- 1997First distillation of Hazelburn
- 1998Springbank 12 years is launched
- 1999Dha Mhile (7 years), the world's first organic single malt, is launched
- 2000A 10 year old is launched
- 2001Springbank 1965 'Local barley' is launched
- 2002Number one in the series Wood Expressions is a 12 year old with five years in rum casks
- 2004Springbank 10 years 100 proof is launched, as well as Longrow 14 years old, Springbank 32 years and Springbank 14 years Port Wood
- 2005Springbank 21 years, the first version of Hazelburn (8 years) and Longrow Tokaji Wood Expression are launched
- 2006Longrow 10 years 100 proof, Springbank 25 years and Hazelburn 8 year old are released
- 2007Springbank Vintage 1997 and a 16 year old rum wood are released
- 2008The distillery closes temporarily; three new Longrow releases appear: CV, 18 year old and 7 year old Gaja Barolo
- 2009Springbank Madeira 11 year old, Springbank 18 year old and Hazelburn 12 year old are launched
- 2010Springbank 12 year old cask strength is released
- 2011Longrow 18 year old and Hazelburn 8 year old Sauternes wood expression are released
- 2012Springbank Rundlets & Kilderkins, Springbank 21 year old and Longrow Red are released
- 2013Longrow Rundlets & Kilderkins and Springbank 9 year old Gaja Barolo finish are released
- 2014Hazelburn 10 year old and Springbank 25 years old are launched
- 2015New releases include Springbank Green 12 years old and a new edition of the Longrow Red
- 2016Springbank Local Barley and a 9 year old Hazelburn barolo finish are released
- 2017Springbank 14 year old bourbon cask and Hazelburn 13 year old sherrywood are released
- 2018Local Barley 10 year old, 14 year old Longrow Sherry Wood and a new Longrow Red are released
- 2019Springbank 25, Hazelburn 14 and a 21 year old Longrow are released
- 2020Springbank Local Barley 10 years old, a 17 year old madeira finish and Longrow Red Cabernet Sauvignon are released
- 2021Longrow Red 10 year old malbec is released
- 2022Longrow Red 15 year old pinot noir, a 21 year old Hazelburn and a 30 year old Springbank are released
- 2023Longrow Red 11 year old tawny, Local Barley 11 and 27 year old Countdown Collection are released; Hedley G. Wright dies
- 2024Longrow Red 7 year old and a 26 year old from the Countdown Collection are released
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Useful Springbank links:
Can I tour Springbank?
Yes Springbank distillery is tourable. On Trip Advisor the distillery has been rated as excellent by of tours to date. This gives Springbank an overall rating of
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