You wouldn’t expect the site of a historic wartime site to be where you’d find a distillery, but on Scotland’s north coast, North Point Distillery produces gin, rum and whisky at an old US Navy radio listening station, used during the Cold War for NATO!
At the height of its 30 year use, the station was once home to around 200 US Navy personnel and included an underground bunker, which now facilitates the ageing process of North Point Distillery’s Dalclagie Whisky.
Established in 2020, the distillery started out by producing its core range of gin and rums. Only a year later, the awards would start to come in, receiving acclaim from the Scottish Food and Drink Awards and the Gin Guide.
North Point Pilot Rum is heavily influenced by the local fishermen (pilots) who would guide merchant ships through the treacherous waters of the Pentland Firth near John O’Groats.
North Point Distillery Spiced Rum uses the same initial recipe as the Pilot Rum, with the addition of cacao nibs, 3 types of oranges, coffee beans, spices, vanilla and sugar to create a rich characterful spirit.
North Point Distillery’s Crosskirk Bay gin is a London Dry gin with refreshing citrus notes. It celebrates the location of the distillery, overlooking the north Caithness coastline.
In 2028, Dalclagie will be called North Point Distillery’s official first Scotch whisky, after reaching the minimum maturing point of 3 years and a day.
You can book ahead for Distillery Tours and tasting – choose from two options:
- At the Copper Tour, you’ll get a behind the scenes look at the distilling processes taking place in the Stillhouse, and sample the core range spirits. Don’t worry if you’re driving, you’ll be given a miniature bottle of gin or rum to take home with you! (£12, experience length: 30 minutes)
- The Founders’ Tour provides a more in-depth tour, with access to the stillhouse, warehouse and bottling hall and guided by the Distiller or Founders. Included in the tour are tastings of the ageing Dalclagie whisky and a special seasonal cask sample (£30,experience length: 1 hour) in the warehouse.
The distillery has attained high standards for sustainability, taking every step possible to limit their impact on the environment in every aspect of production and the visitor experience, and in 2025, has also been recognised as a BCorp business for their commitment to social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.
North Point Distillery is based just off the NC500 route. It’s a 30 minute drive from Scarfskerry, making it an ideal trip from Celtic Lodges. To find the distillery, turn at the brown sign for North Point Distillery, onto the Forss Business and Energy Park site; drive straight ahead through the old security gates and continue on, following signs for North Point Distillery.
While you’re on the north coast, why not be inspired by other things to do and see in the area?
- St Mary’s Chapel is a 12th century ruin and is the oldest church building in Caithness. It’s a half mile walk away from the business park.
- For eating and drinking there are a few options; on site at the business park is Carrie’s Couthie Cafe. Nearby Forss House Hotel offers afternoon tea and evening meals (must be booked in advance). If you’re looking to pick up some supplies to enjoy at your lodge, take the inland road back to Thurso via the Wee Shop Westfield.
- If you’re looking for other whisky distilleries, why not stop by the historic Wolfburn Distillery in Thurso?
- Play a round of golf at Reay or Thurso golf courses.
- There are many beautiful sandy beaches as you head west from Forss; Melvich, Strathy East, Armadale and Farr (Bettyhill).
- To explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site, head inland in a southerly direction from Melvich to The Flow Country.
- If you’re continuing west along the coast to Bettyhill, you’ll find the Strathnaver Museum – a fantastic yet moving exhibition about The Highlands Clearances housed in an old Parish Church.
