A distiller’s dream: taking the leap
Alex MacDonald (BSc 2015) describes his path from the corporate world to owning an award-winning Highland distillery in Thurso. He has fond memories of his time at St Andrews – from performing stand-up in the Student Union to making friendships for life.
Three years before I was due to graduate from high school in Canada, my sister was going through university applications. My father suggested the University of St Andrews, based in the far-flung lands of my grandfather’s birthplace. While my sister opted to remain in Canada, my interest was piqued, and for those three years after, it remained so.
Fast forward to 2010: I applied to St Andrews for matriculation in September 2011, was accepted into the School of Management, and was looking forward to starting my life across the pond. I remember walking up the long path and steps into the Andrew Melville halls of residence on my first day and being led to my room on the top floor of A Block, where I instantly and quite loudly questioned why there was a sink in my room. This was only the beginning of the culture shock.
St Andrews is a beautiful town with a palpable history and an otherworldly sense of time. I always felt I was on ‘St Andrews time’ during my four years at the University, having to leave my accommodation 10-15 minutes earlier than required as I was bound to bump into a friend from class, halls, or simply someone I met the night before in the Student Union.
The Union was one of my regular haunts and, I must admit, the way it was back in 2011 with its circular shape and extensive bar will always have a special place in my heart. It provided the perfect environment for socialising, resulting in some of my strongest friendships, which still stand today. After the renovation, though, I could usually be found at Sandy’s Bar – I once even performed a stand-up routine there!
The Vic was common if we wanted a break from the Union, while The Rule’s legendary breakfasts (or perhaps a takeaway from The Dining Room – our favourite Chinese restaurant, alas no longer in existence) eased any woes the day after the night before
I spent a summer working for St Andrews Links – although anyone who has played golf with me would question my qualifications for such a role. Thankfully, that did not become a career path (quite frankly, I would not have made a living). Since graduating in 2015, I have spent time working for large corporates in their government divisions; I’ve even led commercial teams for a number of small tech start-ups across EMEA and North America, some of which led to me to connect again with St Andrews alumni from Japan to Arkansas. Eventually, I started my consulting firm alongside my co-founder, Struan Mackie, before the two of us made the leap to create North Point Distillery.
The University was the perfect place to lay the foundations for what North Point Distillery has become. I acquired the business acumen required through my management courses and by learning the many facts of strategy creation, marketing techniques and finance. Through evenings spent in several fine establishments across St Andrews, unbeknown to me at the time, I was beginning the journey of product research.
North Point Distillery began life as a concept in 2019. It then grew into a full-fledged plan and was put into action in 2020. Through the height of the pandemic, we conducted a successful funding round – which included several University of St Andrews alumni – and we began turning the dream of running a distillery into a reality.
Over the last three years, North Point has become an internationally award-winning distillery, producing the Best London Dry Gin in Scotland, as recognised by the Scottish Gin Awards and the International Wine and Spirits Company. Our rums have also received Gold in the World Rum Awards, and this year, the World Rum Awards recognised us as the best craft rum distillery.
Our team has grown from two to 14 staff, with plans to recruit a further ten in 2024. We currently have two buildings on-site and intend to expand into the subterranean cold-war era bunkers here in Thurso that were previously used by the US Navy.
Our next steps are just as exciting, with the recent launch of our Dalclagie Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky brand and cask programme. We are several years away from bottling; however, we are incredibly proud to join the ranks as one of only 146 distillers of Scotch Whisky Distillery in the world.
My time at St Andrews has played no small part in my career and success – from the moment I stepped foot in the town, through to graduation and up to the present. The relationships I built here have enabled me to build a network of incredibly supportive friends and colleagues who have cheered me on and invested in my abilities time and time again.
I’m incredibly proud to be an alumnus of this university – St Andrews has emphatically left its mark on me. I always remember ‘the Bubble’ fondly, and look forward to taking a walk along West Sands again before too long!