The first reference to Campbeltown whisky is recorded in writing

Campbeltown becomes a whisky smuggling centre and the illegal production of whisky, then also referred to as ‘Uisge Beatha’, Gaelic for ‘water of life’ is rife

The Mitchell family, founders of Springbank, come to Campbeltown as settlers from the lowlands. Some family members were already maltsters

22 legal distilleries are now in operation in the Campbeltown area

Archibald Mitchell becomes partner at Rieclachan Distillery and is later joined by his brother, Hugh

Springbank is built on the site of the previously illicit still used by Archibald Mitchell and Springbank Distillery is officially founded, becoming the 14th licensed distillery in Campbeltown

As demand for Campbeltown malt increases, Archibald’s sister, Mary Mitchell, builds Drumore Distillery

Brothers John and William Mitchell, Archibald’s sons, take ownership of Springbank. Later, John takes his son into the business, forming the company J&A Mitchell

John Walker of Kilmarnock recognises the burgeoning profile of Springbank whisky and purchases 118 gallons

With demand for Campbeltown malts appearing insatiable, John’s brother William continues the family venture into the whisky trade and Glengyle Distillery is founded

Campbeltown, with a then population of just 1,969 was reputed to be the richest town in Britain per capita

The turn of the century brings a change of whisky preferences and Springbank alter their production accordingly to make lighter whisky that was not as heavily peated, using coal rather than peat to dry malt

Some of the Campbeltown distilleries begin cutting corners to meet demand for whisky, resulting in blenders turning their back on Campbeltown and looking elsewhere for consistently better malt. One by one, these distilleries begin to close

Suffering from the recession at the beginning of the 20th century, Glengyle Distillery, after being sold by William Mitchell to another company, ceases trading

Rieclachan closes its doors, leaving only Springbank and Glen Scotia operating in the Campbeltown area

Springbank bottles a 50-year-old whisky, distilled in 1919

Longrow whisky is distilled at Springbank, proving that an Islay-style single malt could be produced on the mainland

Another general downturn in the whisky business sees a wave of distilleries close across Scotland. Springbank continues to sell whisky, though production is sporadic at best

Regular production resumes at Springbank as demand for whisky begins to grow

Springbank Single Malt’s reputation takes off around the world. A spate of top quality bottlings are released which cement the distillery’s reputation for producing world-class whisky

Springbank Distillery’s newest whisky, Hazelburn, is first distilled

Hedley G. Wright, at the time the Chairman of Springbank and great-great-grandson of Archibald Mitchell, buys the Glengyle Distillery buildings, bringing Glengyle back into the hands of the Mitchell family line

The rebuilt Glengyle Distillery, the first new distillery in Campbeltown in over 100 years and the first distillery built in Scotland in the 21st Century, has its first distillation run. Campbeltown is once again recognised as a distinct whisky region

In the wake of rising stocks and soaring production costs, the distillery takes a six-month break from production to allow new warehousing to be built, with the whisky-making process resuming in 2009

Springbank sells a bottle of the 1919 50-year-old for £50,000 to a Chinese whisky collector

Long-standing Chairman Mr HG Wright passed away and ownership of the company was placed into three trust funds.  A family member was appointed to the company’s board to maintain the longstanding family link.

Today, Springbank is one of only three distilleries operating in the Campbeltown area although several parties, including J&A Mitchell, have plans to add to that number. Learn about the place where our story began