North Point Distillery Announces Single Source Barrel Procurement with Midwest Barrel Co.

North Point Distillery have today announced its first single-source barrel procurement with Midwest Barrel Co., a leading U.S.-based supplier of Kentucky Bourbon and specialty finishing barrels.

The deal, which will see the first container load of barrels arrive in Scotland next month, secures a long-term supply of Kentucky bourbon casks to support the continued development of its Dalclagie Single Malt Scotch Whisky programme, as well as providing options for the North Point Distillery portfolio of Rum and Gin brands.

The agreement, which begins this month, will see Midwest Barrel Co. provide a curated selection of lucrative ex-bourbon barrels, a move which will support the tailored maturation programme for the Distillery’s highly anticipated Dalclagie Single Malt, which is produced in Forss, near Thurso.

Included in the agreement are barrels sourced from some of Kentucky’s most renowned and celebrated distilleries, with these barrels playing an important role in shaping the flavour profile, depth, and character of future releases under the Dalclagie and North Point brands.

Midwest Barrel Co, founded by Ben and Jess Loseke, hold exclusive access to some of the industry’s most sought-after names in Bourbon, including single-barrel offerings from Wild Turkey (Russell’s Reserve), and the Willett Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. The opportunity to source stock from these Bourbon powerhouses provides North Point with a distinctive advantage in cask selection: surety of supply whilst never compromising on the quality of the barrel and the liquid that was matured in it previously. 

“Cask selection is one of the most critical influences on the final character of our whisky,” said Greg Benson, Head Distiller at North Point Distillery. “Through this agreement, we’re not only securing consistency of supply but also unlocking access to exceptional Kentucky bourbon barrels that will support some truly distinctive maturation pathways for our Dalclagie Single Malt.”

Alex MacDonald, North Point Distillery co-Founder, welcomed the announcement, saying, “Given the uncertainty in the spirits industry and some difficult economic headwinds, this procurement agreement provides us with a great base to develop our barrel programme and offer some really unique casks to our customers. Moving away from spot-procurement will drive much-needed stability into our procurement efforts and really establish our cask offerings both domestically and abroad.”

“This agreement didn’t happen overnight, and we took our time to find the right supplier that could support our programme,” said Struan Mackie, North Point Distillery co-Founder. “We wanted to be ambitious and secure the very best barrels that we could get our hands on and we knew we needed to see for ourselves how the industry operated in Kentucky. Ultimately, we were incredibly impressed with the quality of what Midwest could offer and our visits to their impressive facility only cemented in our minds that this was the only partnership we wanted to progress.”

Midwest Barrel Co.’s expertise in sourcing and allocating premium barrels ensures that North Point Distillery can continue to build a diverse and high-quality cask inventory aligned with its long-term production ambitions.

“We’re delighted to support North Point Distillery’s Dalclagie programme with some of the finest barrels available in the market,” said Ben Loseke, co-Founder of Midwest Barrel Co. “Our exclusive relationships with top-tier Kentucky distilleries allow us to deliver unique cask opportunities that elevate whisky maturation.”

This partnership marks a significant step in North Point Distillery’s growth strategy, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable and repeatable procurement whilst being uncompromising in the selection of quality maturation options for its Whisky programme.