VisitingSpringbank offers a number of tours and tastings, some of which also include Glengyle (where Kilkerran is distilled) The more comprehensive tasting tours must be booked, minimum 4 people. See website.
Unlike any other distillery tours the tasting afterwards takes place off site - at the Tasting Room - Campbeltown's whisky shop. The shop is the HQ of Cadenhead's, who since 1972 have been owned by the owners of Springbank, J&A Mitchell. A Cadenhead Warehouse tasting is also available. Vital Stats
Springbank is one of the very few distilleries that is still owned by the same family that founded it; one of only two distilleries to carry out the complete process from malting to bottling on the same premises (the other is Kilchoman); and the only other distillery to market three distinct styles of single malt under different brands is Bruichladdich - plus of course Loch Lomond which makes about 8 styles.
Springbank was obviously the original single malt from the distillery - lightly peated and two and a half times distilled; Longrow is generously peated and distilled twice; Hazelburn is unpeated and triple distilled. Hazelburn and Longrow are the names of two long closed distilleries in Campbeltown. Malt Madness, Undiscovered Scotland, Wikipedia, WhiskyMerchants.co.uk scotchwhisky.com |
Getting ThereClick the map's Google logo to go to Google Maps - for Directions, Street View etc.
Open Cycle Map Bing Map Nearby: Glengyle Glen Scotia Arran Jura Distilleries Campbeltown Distilleries Springbank Distillery is in the middle of Campbeltown - it's getting to Campbeltown that's the problem - particularly by bike. Nearest train stations: Dalmally (DAL) (90 miles), Oban (OBN) (86), Ardrossan Harbour (ADS) (49 miles plus 2 ferries). Live Train Times: DAL OBN, ADS (The nearest station is actually Ballymoney in N Ireland a 90 minute ferry journey plus 16 miles away). The Scottish Ferry Services: Ferries Plan (2013-2022) recommended an experimental Summer (late April to late September) service from Ardrossan to Campbeltown CalMac Summer timetable, with direct services from Ardrossan to Campbeltown on Thu/Fri/Sun and from Campbeltown to Ardrossan on Fri/Sun and via Brodick on Saturday. There is no winter timetable service. RangeThe core ranges - plural as we have three very different single malts to deal with here. Springbank - 10yo, 12yo cask strength, 15yo, 18yo, 21yo (limited yearly releases) .
Hazelburn - 10yo, Sherry Wood 13yo RMW TWE Longrow - NAS, Red 11yo, 18yo RMW TWE All core bottlings are unchillfiltered and are bottled at 46%. All three styles have regular special editions from the Distillers, but you are unlikely to see Springbank bottled independently - other than by Cadenheads and maybe SMWS. Springbank pages: RMW TWE MoM CyclingCycle Shops:
The Cycle Shop n Longrow is now closed. |
Photos on this page were taken by me. Click on photo to enlarge. Full size versions of all my photos of Springbank Distillery are available on Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martynjenkins/sets/72157627523626336/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martynjenkins/sets/72157627523626336/