Distillery in Focus:          Springbank
Region: Campbeltown
Name: Springbank Distillery
Status: Active
Website: www.springbankdistillers.com
Telephone: 01586552085
E-Mail: info@springbankwhisky.com
Address: Longrow, Campbeltown, PA28 6ET
Visitor centre: Yes. Booking required.
Owner: J. A. Mitchell & Co. ltd (Independent distillery).
Established in 1825 .
Stills: 1 Wash and 2 Spirit stills.
Percentage of single malts: 100%.
Casks used for maturation are sherry, bourbon, wine (e.g, Tokaji), and Rum casks.

Contribute(d) to the following blends: Glen Extra. Note: Does not contribute to the Campbeltown Loch blend.

Regular Bottling:

Hazelburn 8 YO, 46%
Longrow 10 YO, 46%
Longrow 10 YO, 100 Proof
Longrow 14 YO, 46%
Springbank 10 YO, 46%
Springbak 10 YO, 100 Proof (discontinued in 2010 and replaced by a 12 YO).
Springbank 15 YO, 46%

For tasted whiskies, click here

Some official Springbank bottlings (from left to right): Springbank 12 YO decanter, Springbank 15 YO (<2007), Springbank 1997 Vintage, and Hazelburn 8 YO for the Springbank Society.

Of note, Springbank is the only distillery where the entire process is conducted on site from floor malting to bottling. Several distilleries, such as Balvenie, have floor malting operations, but all the malted barley used at Springbank is 100% produced on site.
Springbank distillery is producing three different types of single malt whiskies: Springbank, a medium peated whisky produced using a partial triple-distillation, sometimes named as 2.5 distillation, Longrow, a heavily peated whisky double-distilled, and Hazelburn since 1997, a lightly peated and triple-distilled whisky. Longrow was first produced in 1973-4, then for a short period in 1987 and finally since 1989, it is produced every year. The distillery is still owned by the original family.

History of Springbank Distillery

The Reid family, in-laws of the Mitchells, established Springbank distillery in 1828 on the previous illicit site of Archibald Mitchell, although no reference in Excise returned. Until 1837, the distillery was registered under the name of William Reed Jun. & Co, who sold it to John & William Mitchell. The distillery operated between 1852-60 under the name J.W. Mitchell & Co, before it was changed in 1867 to J. & W. Mitchell & Co. In 1878, the name was recorded under J. A. Mitchell (John Mitchell and his son Alexander), when William left. In 1881, the distillery became a limited company as J. A. Mitchell & Co until 1891, when it got dissolved and reconstructed as Alexander Mitchell. It was then incorporated as J. & A. Mitchell & Co in 1897, who are still the owners. The distillery was closed during the WWI and WWII, in 1926-35, in 1980 and most of the time between 1981 to 1989. In 1992, Springbank decided to restore the floor malting. Springbank acquired most of the buildings of the adjacent Longrow distillery, with one Longrow warehouse used as a warehouse and a second warehouse used as a bottling plant.  The Springbank cark park is the proper location of the Longrow distillery. In 2008, the distillery was closed for a short time in order to start the production of a batch of locally grown barley.

The floor maltings.	The old mash tun in cast iron.
The wooden washbacks	The still house with its riveted wash still

Source:The Making of Scotch whisky by John R. Hume & Michael S. Moss, The distilleries of Campbeltown by David Stirk and The Scotch Whisky Distilleries by Misako Udo.
©P.Brossard 17Sep08.

Tasted whiskies (141):

Hazelburn

Longrow

Springbank

Hazelburn

Official/Original bottlings (OB)
Age
Hazelburn 8 YO First Edition, OB, 46%. B:2005	Rating: 16/20
Hazelburn 11 YO Springbank Whisky Society, OB, 54.4%, B: 2014	Rating: 13/20
Hazelburn 12 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2010, 3900 bottles	Rating: 12/20
Vintages
Hazelburn 2001 Private Cask, 17 YO, OB, 49.3%, B:2018, c. 36, 276 b.	Rating: 16/20
Hazelburn Sauternes 2002, 8 YO, OB, 55.9%, B: 2011, 9180 b.	Rating: 08/20
Not Specified

Independent bottlings (IB)
WhiskySponge
Campbeltown 1997, 21 YO, Whiskysponge, 55.0%, B:2019.	Rating: 16/20

Longrow

Official/Original bottlings (OB)
Age
Longrow Gaja Barolo cask finish, 7 YO, OB, 55.8%, B: 2008	Rating: 10/20
Longrow Red 11 YO, OB, B: 2012, 52.1%	Rating: 08/20
Longrow Red Fresh Port Casks, 11 YO, OB, 51.8%, B: 2014.	Rating: 10/20
Longrow 14 YO Burgundy, OB, 56.1%, B: 2011	Rating: 13/20
Longrow 1996 Manzanilla for Germany,16 YO, OB, 56.1%, B: 2013, 546 b.	Rating: 09/20
Longrow 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2011	Rating: 16/20
Longrow 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2015	Rating: 16/20
Longrow 18 YO, OB, 46%, B:2018	Rating: 15/20
Longrow 21 YO, OB, 46%, B:2019	Rating: 16/20
Vintages
Longrow 1974, 21 YO, OB, 46%, B: 1995	Rating: 17/20
Longrow 1974 Bond Reserve, OB, 46%	Rating: 18/20
Longrow Private Cask 1993 MacMhuirich, Currie & Wilkinson, 13 YO, OB, 57.1%, c.635	Rating: 15/20
Longrow 1995 Toakji wood finish, 10 YO, OB, 55.6%, B: 2005	Rating: 12/20
Longrow for the Usquebaugh Society 1999, 10 YO, OB, 57%	Rating: 11/20
Longrow 2001 for the Springbank Whisky Society, 10 YO, OB, 53.9%, B: 2011, sherry butt	Rating: 08/20
Longrow 2001 Society Bottling,  14 YO, OB, 53.2%, B:2016, Fresh sherry butt, 600 b.	Rating: 16/20
Not Specified

Independent bottlings (IB)
Cadenhead's
Longrow 2002, 15 YO, Cadenhead’s, 51.4%, B:2018	Rating: 17/20
Samaroli
Longrow 1973, Samaroli, 53%, B:1985.	Rating: 18/20
Longrow 1974 Sherrywood for Samaroli, OB, 56%, B: 1987	Rating: 18/20
Longrow 1987 Dreams, Samaroli, 45%, B: 1999, 967 bottles	Rating: 15/20
Longrow 1987, Samaroli, 45%, cask 123	Rating: 14/20
The Whisky Agency
Springbank Peated (Longrow) 1996 10th Anniversary, 22 YO, The Whisky Agency, 50.9%, B:2018.	Rating: 15/20
Wilson & Morgan
Longrow 1974, 18 YO, Wilson & Morgan, 46%	Rating: 18/20
Unknown
Longrow 1973, 30 YO, FoD, 50.1%, B:2003, Bourbon cask.	Rating: 16/20
Longrow 1973, 30 YO, FoD, 55.6%, B:2003, Sherry cask.	Rating: 15/20

Springbank

Official/Original bottlings (OB)
Age
Springbank Duty Paid Sample, 10 YO, OB, 54.9%, B:2016, RS Butt, Warehouse 3, Retention 570.	Rating: 15/20
Springbank Marsala, 9 YO, OB, 58%, B: 2006	Rating: 11/20
Springbank 5 YO Sutti Import, OB, 46%, B: 1970s.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 8 YO, OB, 80 Proof, B: 1970s.	Rating: 14/20
Springbank 8 YO for Japan, OB, 43%, B:1970s.	Rating: 16/20
Springbank 9 YO Local Barley, OB, 57.7%	Rating: 12/20
Springbank 10 YO, OB, 55.6 GL	Rating: 19/20
Springbank 10 YO, OB, 57%, B:1980s.	Rating: 19/20
Springbank 10 YO, OB, 57%, B:1970s.	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 10 YO HMS Campbeltown, OB, 50.5%, B:2011.	Rating: 15/20
Springbank 10 YO 100 proof, OB, B:2006, 57%,	Rating: 15/20
Springbank 10 YO Local Barley, OB, 57.3%, B:2018	Rating: 12/20
Springbank 11 YO Local Barley, OB, 53.1%, B:2017	Rating: 14/20
Springbank 10 YO Palo Cortado, OB, 55%, B:2023.	Rating: 17/20
Springbank Local barley 10 YO, OB, 56.2%, B:2019	Rating: 15/20
Springbank Local Barley, 10 YO, OB, 51.6%, B:2022.	Rating: 14/20
Springbank 12 YO, OB, 43 % GL, B: 1980s	Rating: 19/20
Springbank 12 YO "black and white label", OB, 46%, B: 1980s	Rating: 16/20
Springbank 12 YO bottled for Auxil, OB, 46%, B: 1980s	Rating: 16/20
Springbank 12 YO, OB, 54.6%, B: 2010	Rating: 13/20
Springbank 12 YO Ceramic Decanter, OB, 43%, B: c. 1985	Rating: 15/20
Springbank 12 YO 100 Proof Sykes, OB for Samaroli, 57.1%	Rating: 20/20
Springbank 12 YO 100 Proof for Samaroli, OB, 57.1%, B:1980s.	Rating: 20/20
Springbank 12 YO Cask Strength, OB, 54.2%, B:2017	Rating: 10/20
Springbank 12 YO Cask Strength, OB, 56.2%, B:2018.	Rating: 14/20
Springbank 12 YO, OB, 56.5%, B:2017	Rating: 14/20
Springbank 13 YO Green, OB, 46%, B:2016, 9000 b.	Rating: 14/20
Springbank 15 YO Black and white label, OB, 46%, B: 1990s.	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 15 YO, OB, B:2006, 46%	Rating: 14/20
Springbank 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2009, 7800 bottles	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2010	Rating: 15/20
Springbank 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2011	Rating: 13/20
Springbank 18 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2013	Rating: 15/20
Springbank 18 YO, OB, 46%, B:2017	Rating: 13/20
Springbank 21 YO Dumpy (A. Mitchell), OB, 46%, B: 1980s.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 21 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2001	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 21 YO, OB, 46%, B: 2011	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 21 YO, OB, 46%, B:2018.	Rating: 15/20
Springbank 21 YO Single Cask for Lateltin, OB, 47.6%, B:2016.	Rating: 16/20
Springbank 21 YO Single Cask for Lateltin Switzerland, OB, 47.9%, B:2016	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 25 YO, OB, 46%, B:2006.	Rating: 14/20
Springbank 35 YO Millenium, OB, 46%, B: 2000	Rating: 19/20
Vintages
Springbank 1964 for the 100th Anniversary of Lateltin Lanz Ingold, 34 YO, OB, 46%.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1965 Local Barley, OB, 50.4%, B: 2001, c. 7.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1965 Local Barley, OB, 52.4%, B:2001, c. 9,	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 1965 Everest, 27 YO, OB, 46%, B:1993	Rating: 16/20
Springbank Local Barley Western Highland 1966, 24 YO, OB, 61.2%, B: 1990, c. 442.	Rating: 19/20
Springbank 1966 Local Barley, 24 YO, OB, 58.1%, B:1990, cask 443.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1966 Local Barley, 31 YO, OB, 53.0%, B:1997, c. 486	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1966 Local Barley, 32 YO, OB, 54.4%, B:1998, c. 494.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1966 Local Barley, 33 YO, OB, 53.0%, B:1999, c. 502	Rating: 19/20
Springbank 1967 "House & tree label", 24 YO, OB, 46%; B: 1992	Rating: 16/20
Springbank 1970 Local Barley, 23 YO, OB, 46%, B: 1993, c.1767	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 1972, OB, 46%, cask 759, 242 b.	Rating: 15/20
Springbank 1972, OB, 46%	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 1972 Distillery Picture label, OB, 46%, B:1990s.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1974, OB, 46.4%, B:1999, cask 452	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1991 Wood Expression Rum Wood, 16 YO, OB, 54.2% B: 2007	Rating: 15/20
Springbank 1993 Cask Owner Fonseca Port Wood, OB, 50.9%, B:2014, c. 444, 274 b.	Rating: 15/20
Springbank 1993 Cask Owner, 14 YO, OB, 49.7%, c. 546, 480 b.	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 1996 For Lateltin, OB, 52.9%. B: 2008, c. 266. 645 b.	Rating: 08/20
Springbank 1996 for Potstill, 17 YO, OB, 56%, B: 2014	Rating: 14/20
Springbank 1997 Vintage Batch 1, OB, 55.2%, B: 2007.	Rating: 15/20
Springbank 1999 Local Barley 10th Anniversary Springbank Society, 14 YO, OB, 57.6%, B:2014, 546 b.	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 1999 Local Barley, 16 YO, OB, 54.3%, B:2016. 9000 b.	Rating: 17/20
Circus Port Springer- Springbank Port Matured for AWICO 2000, 15 YO, OB, 50.9%, B:2015, c.134, 298 b.	Rating: 14/20
Springbank 2000 Port Wood Private Bottling for Awico, 15 YO, OB, 50.9%, B:2015, c. 134	Rating: 15/20
Hazelburn 2001 Private Cask, 17 YO, OB, 49.3%, B:2018, c. 36, 276 b.	Rating: 17/20
Springbank Society Bottling 2007, OB, 57.1%, B:2018.	Rating: 15/20
Not Specified
Springbank C.V., OB, 46%, B: 2001	Rating: 13/20
Springbank CV, 46%, OB, B: 2010	Rating: 14/20
Springbank School, OB, 46%, B:2018	Rating: 15/20

Independent bottlings (IB)
Adelphi
Springbank 1998 Geigy Cask 4, 12 YO, Adelphi, 51.5%, B: 2010, 253 b.	Rating: 13/20
Springbank 1997 Geigy Cask 2, 14 YO, Adelphi, 52.5%. B: 2011.	Rating: 15/20
Antique Lions oif Spirit
Springbank 1998, 20 YO, Antique Lions of Spirit, 48.0%, B:2018	Rating: 16/20
Bottlers, The
Springbank 1993, 18 YO, The Bottlers, 58.9%, B:2009, c. 180.	Rating: 17/20
Cadenhead's
Springbank 1964 For Samaroli, 15 YO, Cadenhead’s, 45.8%	Rating: 20/20
Springbank 22 YO, Cadenhead’s, 80 Proof, B: 1970s.	Rating: 15/20
Springbank 1997 Rechar Sherry Warehouse Tasting, 19 YO, Cadenead’s, 59%, B:2016	Rating: 14/20
Springbank 2003 175h Anniversary, 13 YO, Cadenhead’s, 57.0%, B:2017	Rating: 12/20
Chieftains
Springbank 1969 Refill fino, 36 YO, Chieftains, 57.3%, B: 2005, c. 793.	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 1974, 28 YO, Chieftain’s, 56.0%, B:2003, C. 1161.	Rating: 17/20
Cooper's choice
Springbank 1998 Sherry Cask, 18 YO, Cooper’s choice, 46%, B:2016, c. 116.	Rating: 15/20
Dewar Rattray
Springbank 1993, 12 YO, Dewar Rattray, 57.5%, B: 2006 c. 212, 282 b.	Rating: 10/20
Douglas Laing
Springbank 1967 OMC, 33 YO, D. Laing, B: 2001, 41.4%, 204 b.	Rating: 19/20
Dun Bheagan
Springbank 1968, Dun Bheagan, 51.4%, c. 1415, 432 b.	Rating: 16/20
Springbank 1969, 35 YO, Dun Bheagan, 50%	Rating: 15/20
Duncan Taylor
Springbank 1996 Port Cask NC2, Duncan Taylor, 46%, B: 2007	Rating: 09/20
Dun Eideann
Springbank 1969, Dun Eideann, 48.8%, B: 1995, c. 92/239-1, 685 b.	Rating: 19/20
Springbank 1969, Dun Eideann, 51.6%, B: 1997, butt 2381.	Rating: 17/20
Greedy Angels
Springbank 1995 2nd edition, 21 YO, Greedy Angels, 54.7%, B:2017, 288 b.	Rating: 16/20
Springbank 1995 3rd edition, 22 YO, Greedy Angels, 53.7%, B:2017, 200 b.	Rating: 15/20
Hart Brothers
Springbank 1967, 34 YO, Hart Brothers, 40.9%, B: 2001	Rating: 17/20
High Spirit
Springbank Valentino Zagatti Personal choice, 17 YO, High Spirit, 46%, B: 2008	Rating: N/A
James MacArthur
Springbank 12 YO, James MacArthur, 59.8%, B:1990s, c. 226.	Rating: 18/20
Maltman, The
Springbank 1995 For The Whisky Schiff, 22 YO, The Maltman, 46%, B:2018, Octave c.100004	Rating: 16/20
Springbank 1997, 20 YO, The Maltman, 55.5%, B:2017, c. 290, 276 b.	Rating: 09/20
Milroy's
Springbank 1965, 26 YO, Millroy's, 46%, B: 1992.	Rating: 18/20
Moon Import
Springbank 1991 Le Fanculle Dell’Eoo For Japan, Moon Import, 59.3%. B:2003	Rating: 18/20
Murray McDavid
Springbank 1965, Murray McDavid, 46%.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1967, 31 YO, Murray McDavid, 46%, B:1998, ref 1315	Rating: 16/20
Springbank Cuvée 65-93, Murray McDavid, 46% B:2004	Rating: 16/20
Springbank 1993 Koval Cask Finish, 23 YO, Murray McDavid, 50.4%, B:2018, c. 15044	Rating: 17/20
Nectar of the daily dram
Springbank 1994, 23 YO, The Nectar of the Daily Dram, 50.6%, B:2017	Rating: 17/20
Samaroli
Springbank 1965 Flowers, 25 YO, Samaroli, 46%, B:1990, 480 b.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1968 Age of Monography, 20 YO, Samaroli, 50%, B: 1980s.	Rating: 18/20
Sansibar
Springbank 1992 for Japanwhisky, 28 YO, Sansibar, 42.8%, B :2020, cask 28	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 2000, 18 YO, Sansibar, 47.9%, B:2019.	Rating: 17/20
Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Springbank 1975, Scotch Malt Sales, 46%.	Rating: 16/20
Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS)
Springbank 1965 27.6, SMWS, 58.7%, B:1987.	Rating: 19/20
Springbank 1964 27.41, 31 YO, SMWS, 51.1%, B: 1996.	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 1965 27.21, SMWS, 52.8%, B:1992	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 1965 27.23, SMWS, 57.3%, B: 1993	Rating: 16/20
Signatory
Springbank 1969, 26 YO, Signatory, 52.8%, B:1996, 632 b.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1969, 26 YO, Signatory, 51.7%, B:1995, 790 b.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1969, 27 YO, Signatory, 51.8%, B:1996, 632 b.	Rating: 17/20
Springbank 1969, 27 YO, Signatory, 54%, B:1997, c. 2383, 580 b.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1970, 36 YO, Signatory, 53.1%. B:2006, c.1629, 461 b.	Rating: 17/20
That Boutique Y Whisky
Springbank 1996, 21 YO, That Boutique-y Whisky Company, 47.5%, B:2018, c. 02/0118-1 (767), Madeira Butts, 911 b.	Rating: 13/20
The Whisky Agency
Western Highland (Springbank) 1965 Private stock, 45 YO,TWA, 45.7%, B: 2010, 98 b.	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1996 TWA 10th Anniversary, 21 YO, The Whisky Agency, 50.3%	Rating: 17/20
Whiskybroker
Springbank 2000 for Port of Holmsund, 17 YO, Whiskybroker, 41.6%, B:2017, c. 630, 196 b.	Rating: 14/20
The Whisky Chamber
Springbank 1998 Rum Cask, 9 YO, The Whisky Chamber, 57.7%	Rating: 14/20
The Whisky Exchange / Speciality Drinks/ Elixir Distillers
Springbank 21 YO, The Whisky Exchange, 54.1%, B:2016, 120 b.	Rating: 16/20
Springbank Art of Whisky for The Whisky Exchange, 24 YO, Elixir Distillers, 57.1%, B:2017	Rating: 16/20
Springbank 1993 Sherry Cask Masterpieces, Elixir Distillers, 52.2%, B:2018.	Rating: 16/20
Springbank 1995, The Whisky Exchange, 56.5%, B: 2012	Rating: 14/20
Whiskyfair (Whisky Fair)
Springbank 1970, 35 YO, Whiskyfair, B:2005, 59.5%	Rating: 18/20
Springbank 1971, 35 YO, Whiskyfair, 59%, B: 2007, 239 b	Rating: 18/20
Others
Springbank Solera, Dornoch Castle Whisky Bar, Abv ?, B: March 2016.	Rating: 18/20