Distilleries of Campbeltown: The Rise and Fall of the Whisky Capital of the World

by David I. Stirk

Campbeltown was once the whisky capital of the world with 29 distilleries operating simultaneously in 1835. How had this remote fishing port and royal burgh become the epicentre of Scotland's greatest export? David Stirk reveals all in this engaging and well illustrated insight into the people who were the movers and shakers behind this huge industry. The origins lie in illicit distilling which was prevalent all over Kintyre in the late 18th century. Many women were involved in this business which made many ordinary folk very wealthy and out of these origins, the legal trade was established in 1817 with Campbeltown Distillery being the first of many. Over the course of the next two decades every street and corner in the burgh had a distillery or brewery built on it. The names were redolent of Kintyre history and Kinloch, Caledonian, Dalaruan, Lochhead, Longrow, Meadowburn, Burnside, Kintyre, Rieclachan, Union, Argyll, Glenramskill, Highland, Springbank and Albyn, to name only some. It is no idle boast that Campbeltown was the Victorian whisky capital of the world and just as great schemes rise, so do they fall. Ultimately the town's prosperity waned with the Great War, the depression, prohibition in the USA and the failure of local coal seams. Now only Springbank, Glen Scotia and Glen Gyle remain in production, solitary reminders of the once great whisky days of this Royal Burgh.

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jorgen Lundgren · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather long read with different sections and appendix. Much touching is the story of Mr Duncan MacCallum and his life. Back in the days 1837 there was 27 active whisky distilleries in Campbeltown. Over the years 35 different whisky distilleries has come and gone. Today only 3 whisky distilleries exist and are still in production namely, Springbank, Glengyle and Glen Scotia. The privately family own Springbank distillery produce 3 distinct whiskies, Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn.

One day I must visit Campbeltown and its distilleries, it's on my to do list.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

An odd book. Mostly a collection of newspaper clippings and other bits of information collected by another documentor who passed away before collating them all. Makes it quirky and reveals little bits of information otherwise difficult to relate in a story, but not gripping as the reader is partially made to piece together their own story.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

There really isn't much in this book. There is no narrative flow. The book is really just a collection of letters and journal entries pasted together without telling a story. However, there is still some good information; for that it gets two stars.