Springbank

Springbank is a whisky distillery located in Campbeltown on the Kintyre peninsula. It was built in 1828 by a close relative of the Mitchell family whose descendants are still the owners today. The distillery was not the first one to operate in the area, local records show that many illegal distilleries operated there since at least the late 18th century. The founder of the distillery sold it to the Mitchell family in 1837.

In 1872 John and Alexander Mitchel (Nephew and Uncle respectively) joined forces and took full control of the distillery. Their initials still appear prominently on labels of Springbank whisky. Under the pair's ownership the distillery flourished and grew. The late 19th and early 20th centuries were periods of bonanza for Campbeltown distilleries. These distilleries benefited from their proximity to Glasgow, the center of whisky blending in Scotland at the time. The style of whisky from Campbeltown was very popular among blenders.

Springbank and most other Campbeltown distilleries had their difficult times too. In the final years of the 19th century the Pattison crisis hit. Sixteen years later WWI broke out, Campbeltown distillers somehow managed to survive those difficult times until the 1920's. On that decade one of the largest markets for Scotch whisky, the US, embraced the prohibition on alcohol and sales to that market were no more. Some 50 distilleries closed down in Scotland, Campbeltown saw all but three of its distilleries going silent. Things got even worse, by the 1960's only Springbank and Glen Scotia remained active. 

The distillery run out of luck and it closed down in 1979 it was only reopened in 1987. On that year it was decided that all of the production would be bottled as single malt and as a result, no more whisky would be sold to blenders. Five years later the malting floors were rehabilitated. For some years limited stocks of Springbank whisky were available, this problem was more acute in the 1990's. Today Springbank whiskies remain a favourite among aficionados and enthusiasts. 

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