Next auction starts Friday 30 May. Sell With Us in our Next Auction.
rgba(32,16,15,1)
rgba(255,255,255,1)
Discover and bid on old, rare and collectible whiskies in our online auctions each month.
Springbank
Image
Founded
1828
Region
Campbeltown
Status
Operational
Company
Production type
Single malt
Production capacity
500,000 litres per year
Image
Springbank is a revered single malt distillery in Scotland's Campbeltown region. It was established by the Reid family in 1828 who quickly ran into financial difficulties and sold it to John and William Mitchell in 1837. J&A Mitchell was later incorporated to run the distillery and it remains the owner to this day.
The distillery notably produces three distinct single malt styles. Its flagship Springbank single malt is a two-and-a-half times distilled whisky, and it also produces a double-distilled and heavily-peated malt called Longrow, and a triple-distilled variety called Hazelburn.
The Springbank single malt brand is one of the oldest in Scotland and aesthetically is nearly unchanged from its original conception. Bottlings were first introduced as early as the 1960s and available in a range of 5-, 8-, 10- and 12-year-old age statements. Through the 1970s and 1980s these were supplemented by 15-, 21- and 25-year-olds, with the brand among the first to offer single casks and a 50-year-old single malt which was released in the iconic "pear-shape" bottle in 1970.
The first label redesigns appeared in the 1990s and were numerous. There are affectionately known as the "parchment" and "thistle" labels before a 12- and 15-year-old with new white label designs appeared at the end of the decade.
The modern range appeared in 2000 and despite some label updates remains largely the same to this day. The core expressions are a 10- and 15-year-old, supplemented by batch releases of a cask strength 12-year-old and an 18- and 21-year-old.
Current owner
1897-present
Springbank Distillery
Campbeltown
PA28 6ET
Scotland
1828
1837
1872
1897
1926
1933
1960
1969
1973
1979
1985
1987
1989
1992
1996
1997
1999
2005
2008
William Reid acquires a distilling license, founding the Springbank distillery.
William Reid sells the distillery to his in-laws, John and William Mitchell.
William Mitchell leaves the distillery to join Reichlachan and is replaced by John's son, Alexander.
J&A Mitchell & Co is founded.
The distillery closes as Campbeltown is hit hard by bust period in Scotch whisky industry.
Production is resumed.
In-house maltings are closed.
J&A Mitchell acquire William Cadenhead of Aberdeen.
First production of heavily-peated spirit.
Distillery closes again.
Longrow brand of heavily-peated single malt is launched.
Limited production is starts again.
Full production is resumed.
Distillery reinstates in-house maltings.
The first "Local Barley" whiskies are released, entirely produced within an 8-mile radius of the distillery.
Triple-distilled spirit production begins.
World's first organic single malt, commissioned in 1992, in launched in collaboration with the Dà Mhìle brand.
Hazelburn brand of triple-distilled single malt is launched.
Production is paused temporarily.