Deeper Dives #2: The Rise & Fall of Campbeltown with David Stirk

Send us Fan Mail We’re back with another Decades Distilled: Deeper Dive, our bonus series where we revisit some of the stories that have surfaced throughout our journey through whisky history and give ourselves a little more time to explore them. This time, we’re heading to Campbeltown. Once known as “Whiskyopolis,” Campbeltown was one of the great centers of the whisky world, home to more than 20 distilleries at its height. But within a remarkably short period, that booming industry nearly disappeared. So what actually happened? Kurt is joined by whisky writer, historian and Campbeltown expert David Stirk, whose upcoming book, Whiskyopolis, explores the rise, fall and resurgence of the region’s whisky industry. Together, they unpack the complicated forces behind Campbeltown’s decline, from changing demand and overproduction to transportation challenges, the aftermath of World War I and an industry built around supplying whisky for blends. They also explore what life was actually like in a town built around whisky, how close Campbeltown came to disappearing from the whisky map altogether, and the people and distilleries that eventually helped bring it back. Pour yourself a dram and join us for another Decades Distilled: Deeper Dive into the remarkable story of Campbeltown.