NB Distillery

An improvised still made with a pressure cooker and heating pipes was NB Distillery’s first laboratory. The business’s history describes kitchen experiments with botanicals, repeated distillations, and a gin recipe that would take North Berwick’s initials as its name. Moving to a custom-built still called Gloria allowed that formula to become a consistent production process.

The distillery is in Halflandbarns, outside North Berwick and near Tantallon Castle. Jamie MacDonald and Iain Bell are identified as owners and directors in its current introduction. The site combines production, a shop, and a tasting lounge, allowing visitors to see the stills and understand how the spirits develop before sampling them.

Original London Dry Gin shares the catalog with Navy Strength and a samphire gin made with the coastal plant. Citrus Vodka adds another spirit category, while rum comes in spiced and barrel-aged versions. Trilogy selections bring several offerings together; the shop also carries an East Lothian cookbook and a coast-inspired Laura Thomas candle.

The Ginspiration Experience lasts about an hour and a half. It starts with a gin and tonic and the business’s story, continues with an explanation of distillation, and moves to the lounge for a guided tasting of three gins. It ends with a drink of choice, which can include the house rum. Reservations are made online, and the program is limited to adults age 18 and over.

Cocktail Evenings offer a different format, lasting about two hours, with cocktails and local produce in a small-group setting. Gift vouchers cover experiences, while group bookings have their own inquiry channel. Guests who do not want alcohol have soft drinks available and, under the tour program, can take home a gin sample to enjoy another time.

The upstairs lounge and dining room can be booked for meetings, celebrations, or corporate events. The space accommodates up to 20 seated guests or 30 with a mix of seated and standing guests. A tasting experience can be added to the event. The building has a ramp, a lift to the lounge, an accessible restroom, and parking with accessible spaces.

The Cellar Door Shop sells the spirits and refills customers’ own NB gin, rum, or vodka bottles. Traveling from North Berwick, the A198 route passes Tantallon Castle and takes the Halflandbarns turn into the industrial estate. NB Distillery combines a visit to a working production site with a product selection that extends the experience beyond the tasting.