Campbeltown single malts are single malt Scotch whiskies distilled in the burgh of Campbeltown, on the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland. Once a major producer of whisky with as many as 30 distilleries, and claiming the title "whisky capital of the world", its production has markedly declined. Most of the distilleries have gone out of business and little trace of them remains. The reason for this decline was that the town was "churning out whisky in volume ... with little concern for quality", according to a 2018 book that covers the entire industry and its history.
By 2010 only three distilleries continued to produce whisky in Campbeltown: Springbank, Glengyle, and Glen Scotia. The Springbank distillery produces three distinct whiskies; Springbank, Hazelburn, and Longrow. Glengyle distillery has only recently been revived by J & A Mitchell and Co Ltd., who own and operate the Springbank distillery, and its whisky is sold under the name Kilkerran to avoid confusion with the Highland blended malt named Glengyle. By 2016, Kilkerran had started bottling and selling a 12-year-old spirit, to go along with their previously released No-Age-Statement offerings.
In recent years, there is a growing interest in reviving Campbeltown's historic single malt whisky industry, with two new distilleries currently under construction
Flavours
A 2019 review indicated that the whisky produced here offers notes of "dried fruit, vanilla, toffee, and brine within a dry and pungent body". The Visit Scotland web site is more specific, defining Springbank malts as "robust and smoky with hints of their maritime roots", the Glen Scotia single malts as "lighter with grassy notes" and Glengyle's Kilkerran whisky as "lighter and sweeter, but with the distinctive oily and salty notes".
Legal status
Campbeltown is a "protected locality" for Scotch Whisky distilling under UK Government legislation.
List of operational Campbeltown distilleries
Glen Scotia
Glengyle
Springbank
List of upcoming Campbeltown distilleries
Machrihanish Distillery
Dál Riata Distillery
Witchburn Distillery
List of defunct Campbeltown distilleries
Albyn Distillery built for William McKersie. Some sources say it opened in 1830 but it is not shown in the 1837 Directory by Pigot and Company. On 10 March 1850 a fire broke out in the malt store which partially destroyed the roof of the still-house. In 1894 a storm at Campbeltown brought down the large chimney at the distillery. It closed in 1920 and was demolished in 1927. Ardlussa Distillery built in 1879 on Glebe Street for James Ferguson & Sons, owners of Jura Distillery. It was acquired in 1919 by West Highland Malt Distilleries. After they went into liquidation in 1923 it was put up for sale in 1924.
Argyll Distillery built in 1844 for Robert Colvill, Hugh Greenlees and Robert Greenlees Jr., on Longrow Street. The building was sold in 1929 and converted to a garage.
Benmore (also Benmhor) Distillery built in 1868. This was part of the firm of Bulloch, Lade and Co, who also owned Camlachie Distillery, and Caol Ila Distillery. This firm went bankrupt in 1929 and its assets were acquired by Distillers Company Limited. Broombrae Distillery built in 1833