Visiting the World’s Whisky Capital | Campbeltown 

Have you ever tried any Campbeltown whiskies? Don't forget you can get 60% off Rosetta Stone's new lifetime offer where you'll have lifetime access to a language of your choice: partners.rosettastone.com/ruthaisling1

Your face lights up when you get a new glass and a wee whisky 😁

A fantastic tour of Campbeltown and their rich history. Amazing seeing where the old distilleries once stood and cheers to Campbeltown whisky growing again!

私は、規模は小さいけど誠実に誇りと心意気を持って製造にあたる酒蔵が作るスコッチ、日本酒、焼酎などが好きです。何故かロマンを感じるのです。

Hi Ruth, just subscribed to your channel. I am a Filmmaker vom Austria and my channel is mostly about Whisky (and in German)so obviously I came across your videos that I really enjoy. The first glas in the video is a so called CUPITA while the second one seems to be a Glen Cairn glas. They both follow the same idea, you fill them up to their broadest diameter so the surface is as big as could be. The alcohol starts to vaporize and the aromas gather in the glass due to its narrowing to the top rather than floating into the air. Keep on going, you have such a nice approach. So I will travel along from now on. Cheers.

Campbeltown Loch, I wish you were whiskey Campbeltown Loch, och-aye Campbeltown Loch, I wish you were whiskey I would drink you dry Now Campbeltown Loch is a beautiful place But the price of the whiskey is grim How nice it would be if the whiskey was free And the Loch was filled up to the brim

My father was Hedley Wright, cousin. I work for a medical device company and was being visited by the European manager. As a welcome gift to Scotland, I gave him a bottle ofSpringbank 15 Year Old Single Malt. Finding this bottle was very difficult and when approaching the distillery for direction on finding this bottle, I was put in touch with a whiskey cellar in Edinburgh. As this is a rare whiskey with limited releases, the stock that was appointed to this distributor was already spoken for. The retailer suggested other whiskeys of equal quality however, I wanted to give my visitor one that had a family connection. Once the retailer realised this, he suddenly found one for me, as he was in fear of repercussions from Dr Hedley Wright. I really liked your coverage of the Campbelltown area and videos of your other travels. Thank you for doing them I find them very interesting., take care.

I'm sure I told you I was a Bank Manager in Campbeltown in the early 2000's and I counted 28 local businesses that had employees that closed down around that time not an account of my decisions. I was the personal Manager and the Business Manager was the Manager of the Bank in Aberdeenshire when I was a boy growing up so it was good to have a friendly face so far away from home.. The largest closure was a textile business in the name of Jaeger which had a big impact on the town with regards unemployment . I was aware of a third Distillery opening up but I didn't realise thew importance of that decision. That is good news for the town of another three distilleries being set up. There was a growth industry set up at that time which was a Danish company called Vestas which was a wind turbine manufacturer but that has since closed as the cost of transportation was prohibitive once the local wind farms were completed. I never did any of the tours but I am not sure there were tours done at the time. When I left Campbeltown my staff gave me a bottle of Springbank with a personalised label. The local Round Table had an employee of Cadenheads set up a Whisky tasting for me as a leaving present. I am not sure that was the best move as I had to drive to the Isle of Lewis the next day. During my time there some of the older generation told me stories of Campbeltown in its hey day it really was a bustling metropolis. It was a quaint wee town but it can be lively on a weekend night especially if there were forces personnel in the town and pubs. I look forward to the next installment as usual.

Очень Интересно Смотреть Ваши ИСТОРИИ.. СПАСИБО БОЛЬШОЕ 🎉

I visited a Scottish whiskey distillery about 25 years ago with my then husband. The distillery offered a tasting to two men and two women. Male volunteers were easily found, but for women not so many. So I raised my finger and was selected. I tasted 5 nice whiskeys and got a glass of my preferred one. All at the end of the morning. I never needed a good lunch so much and later had an extended afternoon nap 😂😂😂.

What I love best about your videos is you take us to places I can only dream of visiting. Thank you for sharing these wonderful places with us.

Loved the video Ruth. I had to pause it to pour a dram from the bottle I have of a Campbeltown blended malt! Definitely added to the enjoyment!

Dear Ruth, you're my kind of girl. Loving peated whisky's just as I do. In my 70 years I've tried a lot , Canadian, Irish, Dutch, Japanese, a lot of Scottish and even Thai whisky (horrible) and the best ones come from your homecountry, Scotland!. While typing this, I'm enjoying a 12 year Auchentoshan. Love all your video's and reviews.

Campbeltown is a place very close to my heart. The first time I visited Scotland was on a Tarbert fishing boat which sailed across to Ballycastle (Norn Iron) to pick up our family and bring us there. I was 11 yrs old. It was 1962. My Dad was a BBC soccer commentator in NI and he was a big pal of his opposite number in Scotland and he originally hailed from the west coast where of course he knew everybody. Whisky would have had a part to play. Anyway, the crossing of the North Channel was dire, we were all as sick as parrots, we were pleased to enter Campbeltown Loch where thankfully the sea became a millpond. I have been back several times since then and have toured Springbank twice. The Ardshiel Hotel needs a mention, spectacular bar with unbelievable display of Scotch Whisky, also Golf at Machrihanish which is great, stunning views across to Islay and Jura. Love that place and loved your video.

Scottish whiskey and Japanese whiskey are like brothers. Thanks to Ruth-san I learned more about the origins of Scottish whiskey. This was another great video. I would like to thank you for the whiskey. スコットランドウィスキーと日本のウィスキーは兄弟みたいな仲ですね、ルースさんのお陰で詳しくスコットランドウィスキーの起源を知りました、今回も素晴らしい動画でした、感謝を込めてウィスキー代金に。

Had my first taste of Springbank at their shop in Edinburgh during the Edinburgh festival. Bought a bottle and shared it ! No hangover! Fantastic. Warm, pure and slipped down nicely.. This was in the 80's. It is my favorite whisky of all time !

Go on Ruth, That's the Spirit.

ウイスキーが好きなので一度は行ってみたいです。👍

One of my daughter’s boyfriends is a liquor salesman, and quite a connoisseur of American Bourbon whiskeys, whereas I’ve always preferred Single Malts. We used his set of dram glasses for a Bourbon tasting one evening, and I must say a proper glass allows one to appreciate the subtleties of flavor from one to the other, and I came away with a decided liking of the Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon in very small quantities. I’ve learned over the years that a very good liquor is a treat, not a main course for me!

Its the most beautiful smile on Tiktok . Instantly makes a dull day bright and sunny again x

Another wonderful video. It was once said about the illicit distillers in the Campbelltown that they could make 10 shillings a week enough to keep a horse, a cow and a wife! Love Glen Scotia whisky and just received their Campbeltown Festival 2024 offering.

The all mighty created Whisky to Keep the Scotts from ruling the world! {JOKING!} They brought their trade to the new world where they fueled the rise of Moonshiners of the South. Cheers to My Ancestors!

Oh, and just saw your post on Curling Stones, I am an elite curler and know what goes into making a great rock.

I'm Japanese whisky lover. And I will visit Campbelltown in late July. I learned about Campbelltown through this video. And I was surprised to Ms.RUTH lived in Japan. I'm also very happy that you mentioned Masataka Taketsuru in this video because I love to drink NIKKA whisky. I look forward to seeing more videos from you in the future!!

Excellent.

Very cool that they repurposed the old buildings ❤😊👍

Hi Ruth I just discovered your channel from your Euro Tunnel video. I'm in Australia but both my parents are from Europe (Sweden and Wales) Very interesting videos and you present them so well. Keep up the good work 🙂

Just to wish you and Ernie happy anniversary it's one year since your first video went out on RU-vid 🎉🎉 keep making more great videos

Wow I love that architecture. Stone work. Full of human hands. Beauty

That Springbank glass you have there looks very similar to the Glencairn glasses I drink my Scottish whisky from. The unique shape truly adds to the overall drinking appreciation and experience. -Kyle

The sheer ancientry of the Campbelltown buildings is breathtaking, for an American - in the 1830s, most of the United States were east of the Mississippi River, and it’s only in parts of the East Coast that you will find buildings that old! The 1830s were 30 years before our great Civil War, which is itself in the far distant past 😮!

Fond, lifelong memories of two visits for Campbeltown Whisky festivals. It is the centre of the universe as far as I'm concerned. And such friendly, approachable, if not eccentric, whisky makers. I *will* go back to that shop one day. Much of the Springbank offering in particular can be hard to get online. Get yourself a bottle of the Local Barley, or the 15yo Organic. Or a Longrow Red.... Cheers Ruth, I mean slàinte mhòr.

ルースさんのスコッチウイスキー愛が感じられる動画でした。キャンベルタウンの栄枯盛衰、そして将来への展望まで楽しく拝見しました。😺

My family with Scot roots have a long history of moonshine over here in the US. I find it fascinating a Japanese man came over wanting to learn so badly and even finding a wife. Need to come do the whiskey tour in the US, most are free.

I was last in Campbeltown in September 2021. It was great to explore the area and I was pleased to see the place on the up once again. The downside on the timing of my visit was that whisky tours were not fully back as there were still Covid restrictions. I'm a big fan of Glen Scotia whiskies, so was keen to do the tour there. Alas, only the shop was open. I hope to get back up there in the next few years.

What a history lesson about an area I have never sadly yet been to

This video was really enjoyable for me. Springbank is one of my favorite whiskies and is known as the ‘perfume of malts.

Ruth, I suspect you might not realise what a great film that was? It’s a lovely summary of whisky in the Wee Toon and I reckon interesting for non-dram folk as well as enthusiasts and industry people like myself. 👏👏👏

Springbank's my favourite - Hazelburn non peated, 10 year ❤ The tour was great!

Cambeltown was also the name of the famous ship used for the commando raid on the St. Nazaire docks during WWII.

drive safely on the trip home

Sunday Funday 😊 ❤hiya Ruth 👋😊

When i was at Glen scotia in 2021 they only had those copita/wine glasses as i asked if they had any Glencairn glasses,but its only been in the last 18 month or so that they've had their own Glencairn glass,and i ordered one from the website. Im sure they had plenty of people asking for them. Ive got one of these small Springbank glasses,and also a Springbank Glencairn,and the first glass i got like that was from Blair Athol in Pitlochry.

Hi Ruth, I love your trip reports, keep it up !! Thank you

Ruth what beautiful town n thanks for sharing it with me

Hello from Campbeltown! Thanks for the vlog!

Hi Ruth: I read through some of the comments. A few are like short novels. People are getting excited about this video, and I understand why. You so have a flare for telling a story and keeping everyones attention. Needless to say, your tasting with the Dram glasses is my favorite part. It is a joy to see you so satisfied. You're amazing. Please remain safe.

What a treasure! I never knew about Campbelltown as a whisky region. I agree peaty whisky is wonderful, so now I'll add Kilkerran to my must-try list. So sad to hear the ferry from Ardrossan isn't running. It seems many ferry services are dealing with old boats and short-handed crews. We can only wish for better times ahead for the boats and for the three new distilleries. I sense another trip to Campbelltown for a wee dram, when the new operations are up and running.

This is professional quality stuff Ruth - brilliant!

Good on ya Ruth love a little Scotch. Thanks for the insight to Scotlands finest.🎉

Great video!

I think countries that produce excellent sake are very proud. Masataka "Massan”, a Japanese man, was captivated by the charm and worked diligently to succeed. But what was outstanding was his naturally excellent Scotch and his wife who supported him. A guided tour of its fine sake will be of interest to those interested.

Another great video Ruth, I would have happily watched another hour, I've always had a soft spot for the peninsula.

My great grandma was from Cork my Moms side my Dads side Scotland and Sweden

I do like those tapered dram glasses. They fair funnel the fumes at yer face! 😀

Thanks for the history and look about town! As an aside, If the high abv nip bites you, as it does me -- tip I learned from Ralfy many moons ago: A wee drop of water, maybe 1 to 2 ml, half a teaspoon, will break that sharp edge and allow the spirit to open up. It's amazing to play with the water to get the spirit to offer up all it has, but don't drown it. Thanks for all you provide us digital hitchhikers! 気をつけて

You are absolutely AMAZING

Very nice video! Must visit Scotland to try their national drink.

Such a fun, information rich video. Your video persona is so likable and professional. Excellent compositions and story line. Thanks for taking us along on your journey.

We were lucky to have visited Campbeltown by boat almost a decade ago and we got hooked on the whiskey. The first taste was at the Ardshiel Hotel where I also had my first haggis. Both were excellent. The whisky was 10 year old Springbank. The best nachos we have ever eaten where at the Royal Hotel. To say it was odd to travel to Campbeltown to get the best nachos is an understatement. The nachos had haggis, which with the local cheese, made the nachos so good. I think the haggis was from a local butcher shop that also had some really good smoked mussels. We did a tasting at Springbank. My wife was looking for gifts and missed the first part of the tasting which was only me and the manager since it was later in the day. He told me that the Hazelburn was formulated for woman drinkers, which when he mentioned this to a woman from the US, she wrote a negative review on one of the trip review sites. After the manager finished telling me story my wife showed up and started tasting the whisky. Her favorite? Hazelburn. LOL The manager and I started laughing when she said she liked Hazelburn best so we had to tell her the story. Hazelburn is still her favorite thought she does like a nice smokey whisky too. Time and Tide waits for no one but we were able to visit Glen Scotia to get some whisky, no tasting though. The manager there also mentioned the negative review about Hazelburn. After we left Campbeltown, we headed to Ireland and went past Aisla Craig. I knew about the rocks being used for curling stones but it was nice to see you video on the island, stones, and curling. Well done. Years ago, I was reading a website about the Campbeltown area of Scotland and there were stories about the legal and illegal distilleries. When we did the tasting at Springbank the manager mentioned the number of legal distilleries that used to exist, I asked how many illegal distilleries there were and he laughed. He did say that at one point the distilleries were using up so much water from the single loch used for the towns fresh water, they had to build a second fresh water loch to supply the people. The website I read talked about the money that was made by distilling, both legal and illegal, and how the local plumbers made money making stills. People would form groups to fund a still to spread out the cost. There were quite few stills running on Arran Island. Just like in the United States, avoiding the revenue agents was what one did, not only Scotland but Ireland as well. This was back in the 1700s.... The website mentioned that when workers were rehabbing an old building in Campbeltown, they found a still that had been hidden and built partially into a chimney. It appeared that the still had been forgotten centuries ago.

I have a 1/3 bottle of Glen Scotia from the UK whiskey exchange and 13:52 it is quite lovely !! So want to go and your video affirms that. Thanks for showing us how Campbelltown is the place to go !!!

You cover everything inside out

I I love whisky but have pretty much quit alcohol. I'd love to do these tours though, the history is fascinating and there's no harm in a dram! Fab video thanks Ruth. x

Ahhh... Springbank... the first distillery I worked at and it was even more old school as it is now, but also not the first I lived at/close to. The Wee Toon holds some fond memories for me.

Ruth you are becoming a connoisseur of whisky.😂 I enjoyed the history 💚

Thank you for the wonderful trip around Campelttowns whiskies distillerys look forward to a drink or two👍👍

I love best about your video is you take us to place. I can dream of visiting. Thank you for these wonderful places with you beth 🌹 🩷🩷

A wonderful video and a lovely Glen Scotia snifter glass too...marvelous. 😀

Wonderful .

Hi Ruth, great video, I remember loading tankers from a distillery in Airdrie to go to a boat in Ayr harbour which was bound for Japan. I love how all the distilleries are kept so neat and tidy, always freshly painted and grass trimmed.

Very interesting. Beautiful place and love all the old buildings still being used. Can't do whiskey after an unfortunate incident in my "youth", but still enjoyed learning about the distilleries.

Fascinating! Very interesting & informative! I just remembered Campbelltown from your other video, "Traveling the Scotland Tourists Don't Go," which I am now going to watch again, as I also loved that one. Along with admiring longingly the mouth watering Seafood Platter at Skipness Seafood. Yum!. I also remember it from that old Song "Campbelltown Loch I wish ye were Whiskey, Campbelltown Loch Och Aye. Campbelltown Loch & if ye were Whiskey, I would drink ye drrrry." LOL. Oh my! That would have been a fair sight to see! So, its lovely to visit Campbelltown again & hear the interesting, yet sad, at times, story of the Distilleries there. Yet, it's heartening to hear that at least those three survived. Campbelltown is still a lovely place though, even with only three Distilleries left. The Distillery buildings themselves look so rustic though. So, just seeing & being able to admire them on a tour would be really interesting just for that alone! Aye lassie! I really love yer wee dram glasses they gave you there. Especially the ones at the last two Distilleries you visited. They are so cute! I love both the size & the shape of the glasses.Totally unique! I'm not really a whisky drinker, per se, but I would definitely use those wee dram glasses for everything else anyway. It's also a lot better than drinking out of a Loch! Yikes! LOL. Thank you for sharing another wonderful experience Ruth! Blessings to you!

Fascinating. One of your best. Strange, when in the RAF I remember Macrihanish, Campbeltown’s airport, as place to pick up prawns and take them back home to base, making us very popular. I was unaware of the whisky slant. Ignorance is bliss. Many thanks. Rmb5*

Springbank is hard to find. As soon as it hits the shelves, it's gone. 😢 The Glen Scotia 15YO is one of my favorites.

Excellent video. One of my bucket list things to do is tour Scotland and visit as many distilleries as I possibly can. Enjoy!!

Another fantastic and informative video. Thank you, Ruth.

Ruth so enjoyed this episode. Makes me want to hop on a plane and visit your wonderful country

what an epic small town!

Thank you for making these videos, I really appreciate them.

Another wonderful video and I do enjoy your wee tasting reviews it's making me want to revisit peated malts

Always enjoy your videos Ruth, but especially look forward to your whisky region/distillery tours. Thank you. Slainte'

I visited Campbeltown in 2020 in-between lockdowns. Nice to see it again x

Love the Video! 🥃🥃🥃

There it is again 😁 … some Scottish whiskeys (whiskys) have a pronounced salty flavor to them 😮! I’ve noticed that in the Islay malts, especially Ardbeg An Oa ❤️! Now, you can’t (or shouldn’t 😎) use seawater in making booze 😂, but it’s as though the seaside salt mist works its way into the barrels during aging 🙂❤️. I don’t notice it in Speysiders, but those in the southwest of Scotland are often from distilleries that are ocean-front 🙂.

Thank you so much for all the great information! Really appreciate your channel and you all the way here in Arizona. USA.

Another great video Ruth!

Hi Ruth thanks for this interesting video.congratulations on the short history of Campbeltown. 👍👍👍

I'm back to finish up your story. My wife and I took a tour in Juneau Alaska of the Alaskan Brewing Co. Est. in 1986.. I honestly can't tell you if they make beer or whisky ? neither of us drink any alcohol so just went for the glass and if we got a sample bottle, we gave that to my brother. While in Cebu, Philippines we got to tour a big Coca Cola plant with my wife's cousin, the general manager there. That was really interesting to watch how fast the bottles go by, get filled and caped. Another great story - thank you. ( Dennis Kjolso )

Great post, You really lit up talking about your experience there. Makes me really wanna visit Scotland. When I was closer to your age, could not stand the peated whiskey's, but I love them all now.

Hi Ruth Another good video. Your video brought back memories of the late 60's when my late parents and I used to take the September weekend @ The Argyll Arms in Campbeltown. In these days the mods and rockers existed and the raced up and down Hall Street and other places, they were a menace! However in the late 80's my wife and I made a return journey and visited Gigha, when we stayed at Tarbert. Kind regards Crawford

Thanks so much for that! Very enjoyable!

Hi Ruth this is lots of History in time Amazing Awesome so cool to see😊

Well, that explains the song, doesn't it? Very interesting - I've only been there once and it certainly feels like something is missing...

I've never tried them, but will make it a point! Thanks so much for your videos; your personality and enthusiasm make them simply superb. Scotland seems such a wonderful place.

Another outstanding output - Slàinte !

Another fantastic vlog Ruth. The history and explanations you give are so very good and educational. Also along with the great camera work you give us a wonderful insight into the experience . Thank you for sharing

I bet you slept well that night!!

とても美しい街。歴史もとても面白いです。ルースさんシェアをありがとう。

Thank you, Ruth, that was interesting 😊

Campbelltown had 30 distilleries and 2000 people seems to indicate the population was pretty pickled by the time they departed. Thanks for the video.