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What is Craft Distilling? A Simple Explanation
- Bethany Fraser
- Sep 25
- 4 min read
You’ve probably heard the term “craft distilling” and wondered what it really means. With so many buzzwords floating around in the spirits industry, it can be hard to tell them apart, but at its heart, craft distilling isn’t complicated – it’s about passion, tradition, and the care that goes into every bottle.
For us at North Point Distillery, being a craft distillery comes down to three things: The People, The Place, The Spirits. It’s about the people who pour their passion into every step, the place that inspires us with its history and natural resources, and the spirits we craft to share that story with every sip. That’s what craft truly means to us.
But what actually sets a craft distillery apart from the rest? Let’s take a closer look at the key aspects of craft distilling:
Small-Scale Production
Craft distilleries are defined by their focus on quality over quantity, producing spirits in limited batches to ensure exceptional flavour and character. Here at North Point Distillery, small-batch production has always been at the core of our philosophy. Our stills include a 200L Research and Development still, a 500L still for Rum and Gin distillation, and a 1000L Spirit still and a 2000L Wash still for Whisky – each chosen to give us the flexibility to create premium spirits with precision.
Hands on Approach
A defining feature of craft distilling is the human touch at every stage. By rejecting highly automated production, craft distilleries prioritise skill, intuition, and attention to detail over speed or efficiency. At every step of every batch are our Head Distiller, Greg; Mashman, Dylan; and Distillery Operative, Nick. This hands-on approach ensures that our spirits truly reflect the expertise and craftsmanship of the people behind it.
Traditional Distilling Methods
Across much of the spirits industry, efficiency has become the primary goal – faster fermentation, higher-yield yeast and grain strains, and streamlined distillation runs. While this approach maximises output, it often comes at the expense of depth and character. That is why craft distilleries reject this.
At North Point Distillery, we take the opposite path. In our Scotch Whisky production, we use heritage Maris Otter barley for its unique flavour, ferment slowly with Kveik yeast in traditional wooden washbacks, and distill low and slow in copper pot stills. Even critical decisions like cut points are determined by taste, not just by monitoring temperature or alcohol by volume (ABV). With tight cut points and careful ageing in hand-selected casks, we sacrifice yield in favour of purity and flavour: the essence of true craft.
Local is Key
A key aspect of craft distilling is a close connection to place, and for us that begins with our ingredients. Wherever possible, we source locally – hand-foraging botanicals like gorse, Scots pine, rowan berries, and sea buckthorn when in season. When we look further afield, we partner only with Fairtrade and ethical suppliers, ensuring that every spirit we create is rooted in quality and integrity for both community and environment.
Craft distilling isn’t just about small batches and careful production – it’s about being part of the community that surrounds us. Local farmers help close the loop by taking our draff (the spent grain from mashing) and turning it into animal feed. This hands-on, sustainable approach reduces waste and strengthens the bond between our spirits, the land, and the people who make it all possible.
A Story in Every Sip
A final hallmark of craft distilling is the story and passion behind every bottle. The inherent uniqueness and authenticity of craft distilleries allow them to share far more personal stories through their spirits. That’s exactly what you experience when you enjoy ours. Whether it’s our Pilot Rum, which honours the local tale of the North Coast Pilots, or our Crosskirk Bay Gin, infused with botanicals from the surrounding landscape, there is a story in every sip – each spirit reflecting local heritage, craft, and the passion of the people who made it.
Craft Distilling vs Commercial Distilling
Now that you understand the key components of craft distilling, you might be wondering how it compares to commercial distilling. Take a look at the visual comparison below to see the differences at a glance.
What are the Challenges of Being a Craft Distillery?
Nevertheless, operating as a craft distillery comes with unique challenges. Smaller producers often find themselves competing with industry giants that already command the shelves, advertising space, and consumer loyalty. At the same time, rising costs for ingredients, barrels, and packaging steadily tighten margins, leaving little room for error. Add to this the constant pressure of standing out in a market where new distilleries seem to open every day, and it becomes clear just how much persistence and creativity the business demands. Yet despite these obstacles, craft distilleries have the opportunity to turn challenges into strengths, leveraging authenticity, innovation, and quality to carve out a distinct and loyal following.
Why choose Craft Spirits?
At the end of the day, choosing craft spirits means choosing authenticity. A bottle of craft spirit isn’t just a drink – it’s a story. It’s the tale of passionate makers, a unique place, and spirits created with care, waiting to be shared sip by sip. Craft distilling at North Point Distillery is a commitment: to patience, to quality, and to doing things the right way. The result? Spirits that speak for themselves, rich in character and authenticity. Strip everything else away, and craft distilling is about the people who care, the place that inspires, and the spirits that capture both in a bottle.
Whether you want to order a bottle online, pick it up from your local bottle shop, or visit us in person at our distillery located in the Forss Business and Energy Park, North Point Distillery is here to share our passion with you.
Thanks for reading,
Bethany
The People. The Place. The Spirits.
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