You can’t visit Scotland without sampling some of the best produce in the world and this includes distilleries and breweries in Caithness. Whisky is possibly the most famous export from Scotland. You can enjoy your fill of locally made whisky, gin, beer, vodka and rum on distillery and brewery tours in Caithness, all easily accessible from our lodges!

It’s advised to book your distillery and brewery tours ahead of your visit to avoid disappointment, especially in the autumn and winter months when opening hours are shorter. 

If gin is your tipple, Dunnet Bay Distillery is a must-visit. It was one of the first gin producers in Scotland and celebrated its 10th birthday in 2024. It is the home of the original Rock Rose Gin and its many subsequent varieties, and Holy Grass Vodka which all use local botanical ingredients. In 2025, the Dunnet Bay Distillery team will be opening the redeveloped Castletown Mill as the home of Stannergill Whisky. Very exciting!

The oldest whisky distillery in Caithness is Old Pulteney Distillery which will celebrate its 200th birthday in 2026. Known as the Maritime Malt due to its coastal location in the town of Wick, all elements of production are carried out on site. On their distillery tour, you can follow the journey from the local water source at Loch Hempriggs to glass!

Wolfburn Distillery was first established in 1821 from the Wolf Burn stream on the western edge of Thurso, and after closure lasting over 150 years, the new distillery built in 2012 is just a short walk downstream from the original water source. The tour is fascinating for learning about the history of local whisky production. 

8 Doors Distillery is the newest distillery on the block, with whisky in production and their Five Ways whisky liqueur which in 2024 won a Scottish Food and Drink Excellence Award. Their location in view of the famous John O’Groats sign post has a cosy whisky lounge and tasting room. 

Just across the road from 8 Doors Distillery is John O’Groats Brewery where you can get a taste of various locally brewed ales from IPAs to Stouts. This is the only tour experience which you do not need to book in advance. There is a cosy tasting room which is possibly the most northerly pub on the British mainland!

West of Thurso, North Point Distillery prides itself on creating small batch spirits of rum, gin and whisky with sustainability at the heart of production. The distillery is built on an US Navy Radio Listening Site at Forss, so if you’re travelling in an anti-clockwise direction on the NC500, it’s a fascinating historical connection to see!

If you are doing the NC500 in a clockwise direction and want to know about other whisky distilleries on the route after staying at Celtic Lodges, the following distilleries also operate tours: Clynelish (Brora), Glenmorangie (Tain) and Balblair (Edderton, near Tain).