Did you know there was once a rumor that Campbeltown whisky was aged in herring casks?

It’s time for another illuminating piece to sharpen your whisky knowledge. This time, we’re tackling a persistent rumour from the whisky world. Did you know there was once a claim that Campbeltown whisky matured in herring casks?

Whisky can mature in all sorts of casks, but not every cask is fit for the nectar of the gods. Sherry casks are wildly popular, for instance, but we wouldn’t recommend using a herring cask to mature spirit. Still, there was once a stubborn rumour about Campbeltown distilleries like Springbank aging their whisky in herring barrels.

This rumour surfaced in the early 20th century, around the time of Prohibition. That period was tough for many distilleries as demand for whisky declined.

As far as we know, the rumour that whisky came out of fish casks wasn’t true. But it didn’t come out of nowhere either. At the time the story took hold, Campbeltown was going through a rough patch.

Distilleries were facing disappointing whisky sales and resulting financial challenges. To weather the storm, whisky makers decided to trim costs here and there. Unfortunately, the impact on whisky quality wasn’t always top of mind.

Cheaper casks were bought, and many were subpar. It’s not recorded exactly what flavours those casks imparted, but it certainly didn’t do the spirit any favours.

The tales about herring casks may not have been true, but they had real impact. Blenders who once loved doing business with Springbank Distillery and other producers turned their backs on the region. That ultimately led to even more financial strain for the distillers and no doubt hastened the permanent closure of several operations.

Fortunately, Campbeltown is on the rise again, with more and more distilleries opening in the region. Who knows, perhaps one day this Scottish enclave will reclaim its old title as the Whisky Capital of the World.