A CAMPBELTOWN whisky distillery has partnered with Scots travel influencers to encourage journeying to the Wee Toon ahead of Malt Festival.
Glen Scotia has collaborated with Chris Lawlor, Graeme Johncock and Barbara Gajewska for the Journey to Campbeltown exhibition, which sees each person take a different mode of travel along the Kintyre Peninsula.
The exhibition will be hosted in warehouses on the Glen Scotia site, as part of this year’s Campbeltown Malts Festival from 21 to 22 May 2024.
Scottish Travel Influencer of the Year 2024, Chris Lawlor (@chrispaullawlor), uncovered the history of Campbeltown’s whisky making tradition by foot.
Lawlor discovered the stories of the town’s buildings from an era when more than 30 distilleries would have been producing whisky in the town and when it was known as the whisky capital of the world.
Graeme Johncock, the man behind @scotlands_stories, reached Scotland’s smallest whisky-making region by boat.
Partnering with local business, Sailaway Scotland, he travelled along the Clyde and down the Peninsula before arriving in Campbeltown Harbour.
His journey acknowledged the role that the sea has played in Campbeltown’s story, when the harbour was a hub for whisky exports and to the distinct coastal notes which characterises the region’s whisky.
Barbara Gajewska of @discovermyscotland took the long and windy roads via car, exploring the culinary scene of the Peninsula and its towns.
Gajeweska also stopped by Inverary and its jail, which nods to the illicit whisky trade of a bygone era.
The trio all ended their journeys at the Glen Scotia distillery, meeting some the team including master distiller and distillery manager, Iain McAlister.
Exploring the dunnage, warehouses and production areas, they got the chance to go behind the scenes and appreciate the makings of the water of life.
Kevin Wood, global brand manager for Glen Scotia, said: “We know how wonderful the journey to Campbeltown is; it’s a pilgrimage for many whisky fans and one everyone should experience in their lifetime.
“Our Journey to Campbeltown campaign shines a light on the remarkable history and heritage of the ‘Wee Toon’, highlighting the important stories and people involved in the whisky trade.
“The Campbeltown Malts Festival takes place next month and is the ideal time to see the town in all its glory, but year-round, the welcoming distillery team and quality drams make for an ideal stopping point.”
Every year Glen Scotia welcomes enthusiasts from around the world to the ‘Wee Toon’ and sample drams from Scotland’s smallest whisky-making region at the Campbeltown Malts Festival.
This year the team will partner with experts from the industry, including Dave Broom, Becky Paskin and Millie Milliken for a host of ticketed and free events.
