estrella del Norte

North Star Spirits is a Glasgow-based independent bottler that has earned a strong reputation for sourcing and releasing exceptional single cask whiskies, blended malts, and rums. Founded in 2016 by Iain Croucher, a former sales director at A.D. Rattray, North Star was created with the mission of showcasing distinctive spirits from Scotland and beyond, bottled with complete transparency and without unnecessary alteration.

From the outset, North Star adopted a small-batch, flavour-first approach. Every release is carefully selected for its individuality, whether that’s an unusual cask finish, an under-the-radar distillery, or a particularly characterful single cask. The company’s philosophy is to bottle spirits at their natural cask strength, without chill-filtration or added colouring, allowing drinkers to experience them exactly as they came from the cask.

Cask diversity is one of North Star’s hallmarks. The brand frequently works with sherry butts, port pipes, madeira hogsheads, rum casks, and first-fill bourbon barrels, often applying creative secondary maturations to develop depth and complexity. This approach produces a wide spectrum of flavour profiles, from dark, sherried Speysiders to bright, tropical Lowlanders, and from heavily peated Islay malts to elegant Highland expressions.

Flavour-wise, North Star bottlings can vary dramatically depending on the cask and origin, but a few traits stand out: clarity of distillery character, boldness of flavour, and a balance between cask influence and spirit identity. A typical North Star release might showcase the honeyed fruit and malty backbone of a Speyside distillate enriched by oloroso sherry, or the oily, smoky punch of an Islay malt tempered by a rum cask finish.

Presentation is clean and modern, with bold labelling that includes key information such as distillation and bottling dates, cask type, age statement, and outturn — something highly valued by whisky enthusiasts who prize transparency. Each label also bears the North Star compass logo, reflecting the brand’s guiding principle of seeking out quality wherever it may be found.

Since its launch, North Star has built a loyal following among collectors and drinkers alike. Its releases often sell out quickly, especially those from cult distilleries or with unusual cask finishes. The brand has also earned industry recognition, winning multiple awards for both individual bottlings and its overall portfolio.

Our North Star selection includes limited single casks, innovative blended malts, and small-batch rums, each bottled with the brand’s hallmark honesty and attention to detail. Whether you’re seeking a bold, cask-strength Islay, a rich sherried Highlander, or a rare, well-aged blend, North Star offers a chance to explore exceptional, characterful spirits chosen by one of Scotland’s most discerning independent bottlers.