| Country | scotland |
| Region | Highland |
| Established | 2020 |
| Owner | Independently owned (co-founders Struan Mackie and Alex MacDonald) |
| Type | Single malt (Highland) |
| Number of stills | Four copper pot stills |
| Visitor center | Yes |
| Status | Active |
| Phone | n/a |
North Point Distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery located at Forss, near Thurso, in Caithness on the far north coast of the Scottish Highlands. It was founded in 2020 by co-founders Struan Mackie and Alex MacDonald and remains independently owned. The distillery built its early reputation on multi-award-winning gin and rum while quietly laying down stock for its Highland single malt, Dalclagie, which is still maturing toward a planned first release.
North Point Distillery was established in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, by Struan Mackie and Alex MacDonald. The site is a former US Navy/NATO radio listening station at Forss Business and Energy Park, near Thurso, which fell out of military use in the 1990s and was later converted into a working distillery. Production began modestly with a single still and a team of four; the operation has since grown to four electrically-fired copper pot stills — including the original still, "Sandie Stroma," and a larger still, "Nettie," installed in 2023 — alongside four reclaimed washbacks, and a team of more than 14.
While its single malt whisky matures, North Point built its name through rum and gin: Crosskirk Bay Gin won a double gold at the Scottish Gin Awards (2023) and scored 98/100 at the International Wine and Spirits Competition, and the distillery's rum programme was named Craft Producer of the Year at the World Rum Awards, with distillery manager Heather Ricker separately named Distillery Manager of the Year. The distillery's Highland single malt, distilled under the name Dalclagie from heritage barley and Kveik farmhouse yeast with extra-long fermentations, is being matured in ex-bourbon and Palo Cortado sherry casks for a minimum of ten years; the first bottled release is anticipated around 2028. In the meantime, North Point sells an unaged "Forgotten Son" new make spirit and runs a cask ownership programme allowing customers to reserve their own maturing casks of whisky. The distillery achieved B Corp certification in 2024, with an impact score of 96.8, and operates on largely plastic-free packaging supported by an on-site wind turbine and an anaerobic digestion plant.
North Point's single malt, Dalclagie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, has not yet had its first official bottled release, with maturation expected to run to around 2028. In the meantime the distillery offers Forgotten Son New Make Whisky, an unaged spirit that gives an early taste of the house style ahead of cask maturation, alongside a cask programme through which customers can purchase and lay down their own Dalclagie casks (available in standard and peated variants).
North Point distillery is located at Forss Business and Energy Park, Thurso, Caithness, KW14 7UZ, Scotland.
North Point distillery was founded in 2020.
North Point distillery is owned by Independently owned (co-founders Struan Mackie and Alex MacDonald).
North Point distillery is from Highland, scotland.
Yes, North Point distillery welcomes visitors.
You can buy North Point whisky at Glenbotal.co.uk. We currently stock a selection with free UK delivery on orders over £99.
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About Glenbotal
The idea of Glenbotal came to us naturaly: as whisky lovers, we were always on the lookout for new experiences in the whisky world. That’s why we created Glenbotal and became our very own first customers. We buy unique and hard to find spirits from auctions, ballots, and private collections. Then, we share them with a small circle of friends and people who can appreciate a good dram.