Capital of Craftsmanship: Exploring Campbeltown at the Hong Kong Jockey Club

March 19, 2025

We returned to the iconic 105 Lounge at the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the next highly anticipated chapter of our masterclass series: "Scotch Whisky Journey - Campbeltown." Under the glowing racetrack screens and vibrant atmosphere of race night, we dedicated the evening to Scotland’s smallest, most historic, and fiercely distinct whisky region.

Once home to over thirty bustling distilleries, Campbeltown is now a rare jewel with only a handful of producers keeping its legendary, oily, and coastal DNA alive. Our presentation took club members on a deep dive into this historic spirit capital, culminating in a head-to-head tasting of two phenomenal, deeply characterful single malts.

Here is how our Campbeltown journey unfolded:

1. Springbank 10 Year Old (46% ABV)

• The Profile: Complex, maritime, and wonderfully industrial.

• The Experience: We poured the definitive flagship of Campbeltown to start. Springbank is a cult icon because it is one of the only distilleries left in Scotland that handles 100% of its production process—from malting the barley to bottling the liquid—completely on-site. The nose greeted guests with an intricate mix of orchard fruits, sea spray, gentle peat smoke, and vanilla. On the palate, its signature waxy texture carried rich notes of malted barley, warm spices, and a subtly salty finish that instantly captivated the room.

2. Kilkerran Heavily Peated - Small Batch (57.9% ABV)

• The Profile: Intense, smoky, and powerfully vibrant.

• The Experience: For our second pour, we escalated the intensity with a cask-strength powerhouse from Glengyle Distillery. Reopened by the same family behind Springbank to preserve Campbeltown's legal region status, Kilkerran has taken the whisky world by storm. At a robust 57.9% ABV, this heavily peated expression delivered a massive explosion of sweet, thick campfire smoke balanced perfectly by citrus oil, green apples, and a briny coastal finish. It sparked a high-energy vote across the lounge as guests debated whether they preferred classic complexity or untamed peat muscle.

The energy in the 105 Lounge was unmatched as guests checked the live odds on the track while analysing the unique oiliness in their glasses. Campbeltown whiskies aren't meant to be quiet—they are bold, complex, and uncompromised, mirroring the high stakes and thrilling atmosphere of the Jockey Club perfectly.

A sincere thank you to the Hong Kong Jockey Club team and all the members who brought their incredible curiosity, sharp palates, and fantastic energy to our third collaborative event.

May your selections on the track be as rewarding as the liquid in your glass—Cheers!

• 

• 

•