Campbeltown Ecosystem

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Overview

Once you've tried a whisky from any Campbeltown distillery, there's really no going back. Whether it's Springbank, Glengyle, or Glen Scotia, it really doesn't matter because all the whiskies trickling out from the far-flung town on the Mull of Kintyre are made for whisky drinkers and represent incredible value – if you can find some.

The number of distilleries in Campbeltown is set to double within the next few years, and it will be very interesting to see how the local whisky ecosystem evolves (or perhaps stubbornly remains the same) in Campbeltown.

In the meantime, let's sample a not-so-standard smattering of what Campbeltown currently has to offer.

The Lineup

This tasting is comprised of 7 drams in 20ml measures.

The Lineup

1. Glen Scotia 28yr 1992 47.6% from Cadenhead's

  • Ex-bourbon hogshead

  • Bottled in 2020

  • Outturn of 186 bottles

  • Single cask

2. Glen Scotia 8yr 2014 56.2%

  • Distillery exclusive bottling

  • 1st-fill oloroso hogshead

  • Bottled in 2022

  • Cask #21/655-1

  • Outturn of 308 bottles

  • Single cask

3. Hazelburn 16yr 2007 50.8% for "Springbank Society"

  • Full maturation in ruby port

  • Bottled for the Springbank Society in 2023

  • Outturn of 1,610 bottles total

  • Split between two 35cl bottles

4. Kilkerran 14yr 2009 55.8% from Cadenhead's

  • 1st-fill bourbon hogshead

  • Bottled in 2023

  • Outturn of 234 bottles

  • Single cask

5. Springbank 14yr 2009 56.5% "FS" cage bottle

  • Full maturation in a 1st-fill oloroso hogshead

  • Selected from the legendary FOMO-inducing cage at Springbank Distillery

  • Bottled in 2023

  • Single cask

6. Longrow 15yr 2001 56.2% Chardonnay from Cadenhead's

  • Bottled for Cadenhead's warehouse tasting experience

  • Initial maturation in ex-bourbon for 7 years (2001 - 2008)

  • Second maturation in a Chardonnay cask for 8 years (2008 - 2017)

  • Bottled in 2017

7. Longrow 16yr 2007 54.2% Sauternes from Cadenhead's

  • Full maturation in a Sauternes hogshead

  • Cadenhead's "Natural Strength" series

  • Outturn of 228 bottles

  • Bottled in 2024

  • Single cask