Meet the Producers | NB Distillery | 2024

Nestled in the picturesque town of North Berwick, NB Distillery is a hidden gem in Scotland’s burgeoning rum scene. Located just a stone’s throw from the iconic Tantallon Castle and the awe-inspiring Bass Rock, the distillery is surrounded by the natural beauty of rugged coastlines, golden beaches, and fields of barley and wheat. This stunning location provides the perfect backdrop for the creation of some of Scotland’s finest spirits.

Today, NB Distillery is owned and operated by Jamie MacDonald, a distiller with a passion for creating exceptional rums and spirits. Born and raised in Forres, Moray, in the heart of whisky country, Jamie’s journey into the world of spirits took him far from Scotland’s shores. It was during his travels to the United States and Australia that he discovered a love for Jamaican rums and American bourbons - a passion that would eventually lead him back to Scotland to create his own rums.

After years of experience working with renowned brands like Appleton Estate and developing rums for select clients, Jamie, along with his business partner Iain Bell, embarked on a new adventure - acquiring NB Distillery. Since taking over the distillery, Jamie has dedicated himself to mastering the art of rum-making, spending months refining his techniques and understanding the unique capabilities of the distillery’s copper pot stills.

At NB Distillery, the rum-making process is both an art and a science. The distillery boasts two exquisite copper pot stills from the legendary John Dore & Co., each with its own unique role in the production process. The smaller still, affectionately named Gloria after North Berwick’s coat of arms, is a 120L copper spirit still that distills the distillery’s gins, vodkas, and spiced rums. The larger still, a John Dore Double Retort Copper Pot Still, is used for producing the distillery’s core rums, with a capacity of 1,600 litres.

The rums produced at NB Distillery are a respectful nod to the rich traditions of Caribbean rum-making, particularly the styles of Jamaica and Barbados. Using imported Caribbean molasses, the rums undergo a fermentation process that can last anywhere from one to three weeks, depending on the desired style. This process includes the use of unique yeast strains, such as the workhorse Prometheus yeast and the estery Voss Kveik yeast, along with other additions like dunder, muck, and lees, which contribute to the complex flavours of the final product.

NB Distillery’s range of rums includes something for every palate, from the full-bodied NB Rum, with its rich, long fermentation profile, to the spiced NB Rum, which is blended with barrel-aged rum and natural spices. The distillery also offers an overproof rum for those who prefer a stronger spirit, as well as a barrel-aged rum that has been matured in ex-Oloroso Sherry and whisky casks for 15 months.

In addition to its core range, NB Distillery is also developing an exceptional barrel-aged programme, with plans to release rums aged for 3, 5, 8, and 10 years. The distillery is a fully working production facility, complete with a shop, tasting room, and cocktail lounge, where visitors can experience the magic of rum-making firsthand.

Whether you’re a rum enthusiast or new to the world of spirits, NB Distillery offers a unique and authentic taste of Scotland’s rum-making heritage. With Jamie MacDonald at the helm, NB Distillery is poised to make its mark on the global rum scene, one bottle at a time.

Website | nbdistillery.com/

Facebook | facebook.com/NBDistillery/

Instagram | @nb_distillery/

Twitter | @NB_Distillery