Springbank – the Whole Process, Malting Floor to Bottle
A few hours.
The route
Springbank has made whisky in the middle of Campbeltown since 1828, and it's the only distillery in Scotland that does every step on its own site, from malting the barley on its floors to filling the bottles.
The hour's tour follows all of it and ends with a dram, a glass and a miniature to take home. Afterwards, the distillery's own Washback Bar pours tasting flights.
Before you go
Book accommodation nearby
If you are staying over: here are ours nearest where the day starts and ends.
Book the Springbank Tour on springbank.scot or on 01586 552009 before you go, for any day Monday to Saturday (the first starts at 9.45am): an hour, £18 a head at the time of writing, under-18s free with an adult (note them when booking), refunds only if cancelled 48 hours ahead.
The day
Campbeltown
An hour among the malting floors, the stills and the casks, then a dram in the distillery's own bar.
About two hours
Springbank Distillery
An attraction
Springbank is on Well Close, just off Longrow in the middle of Campbeltown, a few minutes' walk from the harbour. Park in the town centre and walk. Book the Springbank Tour ahead, online or on 01586 552009: it runs Monday to Saturday, the first at 9.45am, takes an hour and costs £18 a head at the time of writing. It goes through every step, from the malting floors and the kiln to the stills, the warehouses and the bottling hall. From early September to December the distillery isn't making whisky, so the floors and the stills stand quiet, but the tours still run. It ends with a dram from the core range, a glass to keep and a miniature to take home, so whoever is driving can save theirs for later. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Under-18s come free with an adult: add a note when you book. Only assistance dogs may join. The shop opens at 10am. Afterwards, the Washback Bar inside the distillery pours tasting flights and whiskies by the glass, Monday to Saturday, with soup and light bites from noon to 2.30pm; there's no booking, and groups of ten or more should email ahead. Soup is served from noon, so pick a later tour than the 9.45am if you want lunch there.
If it rains
The tour, the shop and the Washback Bar are all indoors.
Photographs by Jochn Visentin and Andy Doerr via Google