Name
The name and concept behind the distillery was derived from local folklore about Jan de Groot, the 15th century ferryman who gave his name to the settlement of John O'Groats.
In the distillery's version of the folklore, Groot had seven male heirs who would quarrel over succession. In order to placate his sons, he built a house in the shape of an octagon, with eight doors and eight seats at the table, so no person could be seen as more important than the rest. [4]
History
The distillery was founded by married couple Kerry and Derek Campbell, both local to Caithness. [5] The project received £198,000 in funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise. [6] Planning permission was granted in March 2020. [4] The first run of spirit took place in 2022. [7]
The distillery was officially opened on 2 August 2023 by King Charles III. During his visit, the king filled an Pedro Ximinez sherry cask and sampled the new make. [8] The visit was the King's first official engagement in Caithness since his coronation. [9]
There are several tour options for visitors, some of which cannot be pre-booked and are for walk-ins only. [7] In 2024, the distillery offered free of charge admission for that year's Doors Open Days festival. [10]
The distillery has made much of its location near the northernmost point of the Scottish mainland. It is the most northerly Scotch whisky distillery, excluding those on the islands. [11] Since 2020, it has operated a membership club - the 874 Club - named after the 874 mile distance between John O' Groats and Land's End, the longest overland route in Great Britain. [12]
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