Meet the Producers | North Point Distillery | 2025
Located on Scotland’s northernmost mainland coast, North Point Distillery is a distinctive producer of Scottish spirits, established in 2020 by Struan Mackie and Alex MacDonald. Located just outside Thurso in Caithness, the distillery occupies a former U.S. Navy listening station from the Cold War era and holds the distinction of being the northernmost rum distillery on the UK mainland.
From day one, North Point set out to do things differently, producing Caribbean-style rum aged using traditional Scotch whisky maturation techniques. Its two flagship expressions - North Point Pilot Rum and North Point Spiced Rum, reflect a deep respect for tradition alongside a drive to push boundaries.
North Point Pilot Rum is crafted from premium molasses, fermented slowly over seven days with a blend of yeast strains. Following double distillation in bespoke copper pot stills, it’s matured for 12 months in ex-Highland whisky casks, resulting in a rich, smooth spirit with notes of butterscotch, lemon zest, and gentle oak sweetness.
North Point Spiced Rum is a bold, aromatic spirit made without sugar syrups or artificial flavourings. Inspired by the team’s fondness for Terry’s Chocolate Orange, it delivers layers of deep cacao, Seville orange, cinnamon, and warming spice. Complex yet accessible, it’s bottled at 43% ABV and is non-chill filtered.
What truly sets North Point apart is its unwavering commitment to sustainability. The team has built its operations with environmental responsibility at the core, making it one of the most forward-thinking distilleries in the UK. Key sustainability initiatives include:
100% plastic-free packaging - from corks and labels to outer packaging. Even the bottles are made from recycled glass.
Emissions-free distillation - all four copper pot stills are electrically fired, with the flexibility to switch to steam generation in the future.
Upcycling and reuse - spent casks are repurposed into furniture and décor, while draff from whisky production is given to local farmers as animal feed.
Responsible sourcing - local botanicals like rowan berries and sea buckthorn are used where possible, and international ingredients such as molasses are sourced from Fairtrade suppliers.
These efforts have earned North Point numerous accolades, including Craft Producer of the Year and Most Sustainable Distillery at the Icons of Rum Awards. The distillery has also received recognition from the World Rum Awards, International Wine & Spirit Competition, Great British Food Awards, and others.
North Point Distillery returns to centre stage at the Scottish Rum Festival 2025, bringing bold spirits, innovative ideas and their signature Highland hospitality.
Whether you're a long-time fan or discovering them for the first time, this is your chance to meet the team, sample their evolving range, and explore how this pioneering distillery on Scotland’s north coast continues to push the boundaries of rum.
Website | https://www.northpointdistillery.com/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/North.Point.Distillery
Instagram | @northpointdistillery