Springbank Distillery
A brief overview of the distillery
Springbank is located in Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsula and is one of the most distinctive names in Scotch whisky. The distillery is known for carrying out the entire process on site and for producing three different malts from the same address: Springbank, Longrow, and Hazelburn. The combination of traditional floor malting, independent operation, and a clear maritime Campbeltown character makes the house especially interesting for whisky lovers.
History
Campbeltown has a long and closely knit whisky history, and the first written reference to Campbeltown whisky dates back to 1591. The Mitchell family came to the town in the 1660s as settlers from the Lowlands, and some family members were already maltsters. Springbank was founded in 1828 by Archibald Mitchell on the site where he previously had an illegal still, and the distillery therefore became the 14th licensed distillery in Campbeltown. The family quickly gained a stronger foothold in the area: John and William Mitchell took over Springbank in 1837, while William later helped found Glengyle in 1872. In the 20th century, production changed as Springbank moved toward a lighter style and used coal instead of peat to dry the malt. While many Campbeltown distilleries closed, Springbank stayed open, and in 1989 regular production began again. In the 1990s, its international reputation grew; Hazelburn was distilled for the first time in 1997, and in 2004 Glengyle received its first distillation after the buildings had returned to the Mitchell family’s hands. In 2023, HG Wright passed away, and ownership was placed in three trust funds, while a family member continued the connection to the board.
Raw materials and production
Springbank is built around an unusual degree of self-sufficiency. Everything from malting to bottling takes place on site, and it is one of the few distilleries in Scotland that malts 100 percent of its barley itself on traditional floor malting floors. The barley is steeped in cool, clean water for up to three days, after which it is laid out on the malting floors and turned at regular intervals. After drying, it is milled in a Porteous mill from the 1940s and mashed in a cast-iron mash tun, with the process run three times for each grist. The wort ferments in six wash backs made of boatskin larch for up to 110 hours. Distillation takes place in three copper pot stills: wash still, low wines still, and spirit still. The wash still is fired with an open flame, and the spirit is carried on through the spirit safe, where the stillman monitors the progress. Springbank is distilled two and a half times, Longrow two times, and Hazelburn three times—and it is precisely this difference that helps create the three clearly distinct malts from the same distillery. The water comes from the hills around Campbeltown, and the whisky is neither chill-filtered nor enhanced with artificial color.
Maturation and cask types
The whisky is filled into carefully selected casks and laid into dark, damp warehousings. Springbank uses a range of documented cask types, including bourbon, sherry, port, and rum, and some of the special releases work with PX, Palo Cortado, Amontillado, and Fino. A few bottlings are composed as longer maturation processes, where the whisky first rests in bourbon casks and then gets time in sherry casks or sherry hogsheads, including casks of Spanish oak in the Palo Cortado release. It is clear that the distillery uses the casks as an active part of the style expression, without letting go of Springbank’s distinctive character.
Whiskies
The core range is the Springbank series, where 10-year, 12-year Cask Strength, 15-year, 18-year, 21-year, and 30-year expressions show the distillery’s classic spectrum—from younger, fresher expressions to deeper, more mature bottlings. In addition, there is Springbank 100 Proof, a newer 5-year bottling, as well as Springbank Vintage and Local Barley, which add more limited releases with special raw materials or cask compositions. The sherry series with PX, Palo Cortado, Amontillado, and Fino shows a clear exploration of different sherry styles across the Springbank structure. Overall, the range spans from light smoke and grainy freshness to darker, more maritime, and more cask-influenced expressions.
| Whisky | Type / series | Alcohol | Age | Cask and style | Tasting profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springbank 100 Proof | Single Malt; Springbank Range | 57.1 % | 5 years | 100% Bourbon; peated/malty | A new 5-year bottling at 57.1% with a bourbon focus and the well-known lightly smoky Springbank character.; Nose: Green apples, gorse bush, wine gums, and a mineral note.; Taste: Peat smoke, icing sugar, white chocolate, tomato plant, sunflower seeds, and linseed oil.; Finish: Honey and gooseberries. | Current; Core range; Price range stated on the page |
| Springbank 10 | Single Malt; Springbank Range | 46 % | 10 years | Bourbon casks and Sherry casks; peated/peaty | The distillery’s flagship and the entry point to Springbank’s style, matured in a mix of bourbon and sherry casks.; Nose: Gooseberries, mango, vanilla pods, grapes, and honeycomb.; Taste: Oatmeal, malted barley, orange pulp, heather honey, hard toffee, nutmeg, and cinnamon.; Finish: Sea salt. | Current; Core range; Price stated on the page |
| Springbank 12 Cask Strength | Single Malt; Springbank Range | 56.6 % | 12 years | 100% Bourbon; peated/malty | A 2026 release at cask strength with bourbon maturation and pronounced citrus, salt, and a light smoky note.; Nose: Earthy, mineral, salt, dried banana, granola, lemon zest, and smoke.; Taste: Grapefruit syrup, orange pith, pomelo, and white marshmallow.; Finish: Cocoa powder, glazed cherries, salted pretzels, and a hint of smoke. | Current; Core range; 2026 Edition |
| Springbank 15 | Single Malt; Springbank Range | 46 % | 15 years | Sherry casks; peated/peaty | A dark and distinctive 15-year Springbank built on the Oloroso cask and the maritime, smoky style.; Nose: Cured meat, barbecued beef jerky, clove, mint, iodine, oxo cube, and tinned prunes.; Taste: Sooty kiln smoke, tobacco leaves, prunes, walnuts, figs, Demerara sugar, cocoa powder, and smoked meats.; Finish: Soot, leather, and walnuts. | Current; Core range; Price stated on the page |
| Springbank 18 | Single Malt; Springbank Range | 46 % | 18 years | Bourbon casks, Sherry casks, and Rum casks; peated/peaty | A 2026 release with bourbon, sherry, and a smaller rum influence, creating a full-bodied and complex style.; Nose: Marzipan, white chocolate, raspberries, marmalade, heather honey, and a leather note.; Taste: Treacle, brambles, blackcurrants, nutmeg, and dark chocolate.; Finish: Ash, gooseberries, salted pretzels, and cayenne pepper. | Current; Core range; 2026 Edition |
| Springbank 21 | Single Malt; Springbank Range | 46 % | 21 years | Port casks, Bourbon casks, Rum casks, and Sherry casks; peated/peaty | A 2025 release with clear maritime nuances, sweetness, and smoke from a multi-layered cask profile.; Nose: Medjool dates, sticky toffee pudding, treacle, stewed plums, blood orange zest, and delicate peat smoke.; Taste: Smoked figs, caramelised brown sugar, cigar box, blackberries, and Iberico ham.; Finish: Banana bread, cinnamon spice, and a savoury, earthy note. | Current; Core range; 2025 Edition |
| Springbank Vintage | Single Malt; Springbank Range | 45.1 % | Bourbon casks, Sherry casks, and Red Wine casks | A limited vintage bottling of 1,180 bottles worldwide with influences from bourbon, sherry, and red wine.; Nose: Tropical fruit, dried pineapple, mango, ripe melons, honey, earthy old school Springbank, and sandalwood.; Taste: Caramelised lemon meringue, custard cream, mango, pineapple, and toffee popcorn.; Finish: Earthy, coconut, fresh basil, and gorse bush. | Current; 1,180 bottles worldwide; 1180 bottles | |
| Springbank 30 | Single Malt; Springbank Range | 46 % | 30 years | Bourbon casks and Sherry casks; peated/peaty | A mature 30-year Springbank with smoke, sweetness, and salty mineral character from bourbon and sherry casks.; Nose: Soft candle smoke, manuka honey, cranberries, white pepper, potpourri, and orange.; Taste: Honeycomb, icing sugar, crystallised ginger, demerara sugar, plus a brine note reminiscent of salted caramel.; Finish: Peat smoke, eucalyptus, mint, and gorse bush. | Current; 2026 Edition |
| Springbank Local Barley 10yo | Single Malt | 55.2 % | 10 years | Bourbon casks and Sherry casks | An annual local barley bottling from Clochkiel Farm with Bere barley and changing cask maturation from batch to batch.; Nose: Fig rolls, date syrup, plums, and star anise.; Taste: Burdock, shiitake mushrooms, tamari soy sauce, and liquorice.; Finish: Campfire ash and treacle molasses. | Current; 2025 Edition |
| Springbank PX 10 | Single Malt; Sherry Series | 55 % | 10 years | Bourbon casks and Pedro Ximenez casks; finish: 7 years in bourbon casks followed by 3 years in fresh Pedro Ximenez casks and 3 years in fresh Pedro Ximenez casks after 7 years in bourbon casks | The first whisky in the Springbank Sherry series with bourbon maturation followed by a fresh PX finish.; Nose: Date syrup and raisins.; Taste: Cola cubes, cherry menthol, cinnamon, caramel, oiliness, and damp, dunnage note.; Finish: Sultanas and rich spices. | Discontinued; 2022 Edition |
| Springbank Palo Cortado 10 | Single Malt; Sherry Series | 55 % | 10 years | Bourbon casks and Palo Cortado sherry hogsheads; finish: 6 years in bourbon casks followed by 4 years in Palo Cortado sherry hogsheads and 4 years in Palo Cortado sherry hogsheads after 6 years in bourbon casks; peated/peaty | Second release in the Sherry Wood Series with Palo Cortado finish in Spanish oak.; Nose: Parma violets, buttercream icing, peaches, cola, and grated ginger.; Taste: Soft peat smoke, red velvet cake, strawberry laces, and icing sugar.; Finish: Waxiness, orange rind, and peat smoke. | Discontinued; 2023 Edition; 10200 bottles |
| Springbank Amontillado 10 | Single Malt; Sherry Series | 55 % | 10 years | Bourbon casks and Amontillado sherry casks; finish: 5 years in bourbon casks followed by 5 years in Amontillado sherry casks and 5 years in Amontillado sherry casks after 5 years in bourbon casks | Third release in the sherry series, matured for five years in bourbon and five years in Amontillado.; Nose: Earthy mustiness, hazelnut, maraschino cherries, and blood orange.; Taste: Cured meats, gorse, tobacco box, coconut, and treacle.; Finish: Dry finish with wood shavings and tarragon. | Discontinued; 2024 Edition |
| Springbank Fino 10 | Single Malt; Sherry Series | 55 % | 10 years | Bourbon casks and Fino sherry casks; finish: 4 years in bourbon casks followed by 6 years in fino sherry casks and 6 years in fino sherry casks after 4 years in bourbon casks | Fourth release in the five-part sherry series with fino cask maturation.; Nose: Blood orange, brandy snaps, vanilla custard, and tinned fruits.; Taste: Cinnamon sugar, fresh mint, praline, morello cherries, and lemon curd.; Finish: Key lime, cola bottles, and maple syrup. | Current; 2025 Edition |
Whisky style and tasting profile
Springbank moves between green fruit, citrus, and tropical fruit on the one hand and darker traces of dried fruit, nuts, and spice on the other. In several bottlings, maritime saltiness, brine, and a clear sea-salt line come through, often alongside light smoke, kiln smoke, and ash. At the same time, honey, toffee, treacle, and other sweet cereal and caramel notes appear, while sherry-influenced expressions add fig, dates, prunes, cocoa, leather, and tobacco. This results in an overall expression that is both lively, salty, and complex.
Visit the distillery
Springbank can be visited year-round, and the distillery welcomes whisky enthusiasts with guided tours and tastings. The classic Springbank Tour lasts about an hour and gives access to the entire process on site, before guests taste a whisky from the core range and receive a glass and a miniature to take home. Other options include the Kilkerran Tour, the Barley to Bottle Tour, warehouse tastings, blending sessions, and longer packaged experiences. Tours can be booked Monday to Saturday, and it is recommended to book in advance. The shop opens at 10:00, and production takes a break from early September to December, while guided tours are still carried out. Under-18s can participate in the Springbank and Kilkerran tours together with a responsible adult.
The listed opening hours are Monday–Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sunday closed. The opening hours also apply on bank holidays, but not for two weeks around Christmas and New Year.
See times and book a visit.
Philosophy and craftsmanship
Springbank’s philosophy is tied to craftsmanship, continuity, and full control over production. The distillery sticks to traditional floor malting, works with human hands in every step, and uses neither chill filtration nor artificial coloring. The entire house is set up around the idea that whisky quality is created through the on-site process, the historical heritage, and the care put into every stage from grain to bottle.