North Port

In 1820, brothers David, John and Alexander Guthrie founded a distillery in the walled town of Brechin that was initially named simply "Townhead", before being renamed North Port in 1839 after the town wall's old northern gate. The distillery remained in family hands for around a hundred years before being sold to the Distillers Company (DCL) in 1922 - which mothballed it again as early as 1928. After a brief mid-20th-century revival and modernisation in the 1970s, North Port met the same fate as eight other DCL distilleries in 1983: production was permanently halted amid an industry-wide overproduction crisis. The historic building was demolished in 1994 - a supermarket now stands on the site.

North Port Brechin 1981/2018 30th Anniversary + 2 Gläser

Food information

Natural Colour

Content: 0.7 Liter (€2,017.13 / 1 Liter)

Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days

€1,411.99

Details & Buy

North Port Brechin 1976/2017 Sig RR

Food information

Natural Colour

Content: 0.7 Liter (€2,358.56 / 1 Liter)

Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days

€1,650.99

Details & Buy

Where does the unusual name North Port come from?

The name refers to the old northern gate ("North Port") of the once-walled town of Brechin, near which the distillery, founded in 1820, was located. It was originally called simply "Townhead" before receiving its present, history-laden name in 1839.

Why was North Port closed?

Like many Scotch distilleries, North Port fell victim to the industry-wide overproduction crisis in 1983 - the Distillers Company (DCL) closed nine sites that year alone. The building was demolished in 1994, and a supermarket now occupies the site.

Flavour profile

Taste: Traditionally described as a robust, slightly earthy and spiced Highland malt with a certain ruggedness - today's impressions come exclusively from rare independent cask bottlings.

Recommended enjoyment: For collectors and enthusiasts of "silent stills" - given its extreme rarity and corresponding price level, more a special collector's item than an everyday whisky.

Available is the rare anniversary bottling North Port Brechin 1981/2018 30th Anniversary.

Facts and figures

Founded 1820 by the Guthrie brothers in Brechin, Angus, as "Townhead". Renamed 1839. Sold to DCL in 1922, first mothballed 1928. Permanently closed 1983, demolished 1994.