Springbank Distillers Ltd
About the distillery
Springbank Distillers Ltd in Campbeltown is behind Longrow, a distinctive peaty-smoked whisky series with double distillation and a robust character. The series was created in 1973 as a peaty, oily and robust contribution to a blend, and since the 1990s it has been a regular part of production. The name comes from another, now vanished Campbeltown distillery, whose former warehousing building today houses the bottling hall.
History
Longrow was first produced in 1973 to supply a peaty, oily and robust element to a blend that was being developed at the time. The name is taken from another, now vanished Campbeltown distillery, which once stood right next to Springbank, and whose old warehouse building is used today as the bottling hall. Since the 1990s, Longrow has been a regular part of the production calendar, and that has cemented its place as a lasting mark in Springbank’s work rather than a one-off project. That history makes Longrow especially interesting: it is both a nod to the town’s distilling heritage and an expression of a style the distillery has chosen to keep alive for decades.
Ingredients and production
Longrow is double-distilled and built around a clearly peated profile. The description is direct: the whisky is more heavily peated, and it’s the smoke that defines the style, while at the same time it is described as oily and robust. It’s a whisky where the smoke doesn’t stand alone, but plays together with a creamy and well-balanced base note, as in Longrow Peated. Cask choices range from bourbon and sherry casks, and in Longrow 100° Proof refill pinot noir casks are also used, which makes it possible to pull the smoke in several directions without losing its core character. The production story is therefore marked by a deliberate and consistent style: strong peat smoke, double distillation, and a way of using casks that allows Longrow to keep its distinctive identity.
Maturation and cask types
Longrow Peated is matured in bourbon and sherry casks. Longrow 18 from 2024 is matured in 90 percent sherry casks and 10 percent port casks and bottled as part of the limited core range. Longrow 100° Proof is matured for almost four years in refill bourbon and over two years in refill pinot noir, before being bottled at cask strength. The casks are thus not just support, but an active part of the expression: bourbon keeps a cleaner, vanilla-led structure, sherry and port add darker fruit and richness, and pinot noir adds a more subdued red-wine nuance over the peated base.
Whiskies
The range on the page focuses on Longrow in three expressions. Longrow Peated is the classic, richly smoky entry with 46 percent alcohol and a clear focus on balance between creaminess and smoke. Longrow 18 is the matured version, bottled as the 2024 Edition with sherry and port influence and a deeper, darker fruit profile. Longrow 100° Proof is the newer addition, bottled at higher strength and with a more modern contrast between peat smoke and refill casks. Together, they show how Longrow can be both a fixed core style and a series that can be pushed in different directions without losing its identity.
| Whisky | Type / series | Alcohol | Age | Cask and style | Tasting profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longrow Peated | Single malt whisky | 46 % | Bourbon casks and Sherry casks; smoked/peaty | Heavily peated single malt at 46% ABV, matured on bourbon and sherry casks.; Nose: Very creamy, vanilla custard. Smoke develops gradually. Toasted marshmallows, herbs and rich fruits appear over time.; Taste: Incredibly well balanced; rich and creamy with a slight medicinal hint. The smoke is always present, washing over the palate in waves.; Finish: The gentle smoke lingers and lingers, leaving you yearning for more. | Current; Core range; Our Price: £50.00 | |
| Longrow 18 | Single malt whisky | 46 % | 18 years | Sherry casks and Port casks; smoked/peaty | 2024 Edition; part of the limited core range.; Nose: Blackberry jam, walnuts, liquorice and a subtle smokiness.; Taste: The peat smoke continues on the palate with notes of black forest gateaux, maraschino cherries, dates and dark chocolate ganache.; Finish: A long, gentle finish with coffee beans, sea salt and peat smoke. | Current; Core range; Our Price: £110.00 |
| Longrow 100° Proof | Single malt whisky | 57.1 % | NAS | Refill bourbon casks and Refill pinot noir casks; smoked/peaty | 2026 Edition; a newer addition to the series, bottled at cask strength with subtle vinous influence.; Nose: Redcurrants, madagascan vanilla, tiger prawns, salami and peppercorns with an ashy note.; Taste: Peat smoke with tobacco, cigar smoke, dark fruits and leather.; Finish: Spiciness with chilli peppers, cherry menthol and peat smoke. | Current; Core range; Our Price: £60.00 |
Whisky style and tasting profile
Longrow moves between creamy vanilla, dense peat smoke, and dark fruit. In the younger version there is vanilla custard, toasted marshmallows, herbs and rich fruits, while the 18-year-old version moves toward blackberry jam, walnuts, liquorice, dates and dark chocolate ganache. In 100° Proof, redcurrants, madagascan vanilla, dark fruits, leather and chilli peppers appear, along with a clear ashy note and peat smoke. This creates an overall impression of a whisky family where smoke, sweetness, fruit and spice are always kept close together.
Visit the distillery
There is public access for visitors, and Springbank Distillers Ltd offers tours and tastings with a team that takes guests through the house’s history and offers tastings. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10am–6pm, while Sunday is closed. The times also apply on bank holidays, but not during the two weeks over Christmas and New Year. In addition to the general visits, several experiences are mentioned, including Springbank Tour, Kilkerran Tour, Eat, Sleep, Dram, Repeat, Cadenhead's Creation - Blending Session, Cadenhead’s Warehouse Tasting, Cadenhead's Tasting Room, Barley to Bottle Tour, The Washback Bar, The JAM Experience, and Springbank Whisky School.
The stated opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10am–6pm; Sunday closed. The opening hours also apply on bank holidays, but not during the two weeks over Christmas & New Year.
Philosophy and craftsmanship
Longrow’s philosophy is clearly expressed through its style: the whisky is made to be a peaty, oily and robust component. It’s a deliberate chosen direction, where the powerful peat smoke and double distillation are the key tools. The result isn’t a decorated or polished profile, but a whisky that sticks to a clear, recognisable expression.