Scotland's latest start-up whisky-making venture came on stream in January. Named Wolfburn, it is located in the outskirts of of Thurso, in Caithness, and revives the Wolfburn name, formerly applied to a distillery which stood very close to the new plant and was owned and run by members of the Smith family between 1821 and the 1850s.

Wolfburn draws its process water from the same source, namely the Wolf Burn, and the project has been financed by private investors who formed Aurora Brewing specifically for the purpose of constructing and operating the new distillery.

Stephen Light, development manager, said: "The entire plant is custom-built and designed by Forsyth's of Rothes on Speyside, and the distillery manager is Shane Fraser, who was manager at Glenfarclas for seven years."

Fraser is assisted by Max Beeson, formerly of North British grain distillery in Edinburgh, Light added: "We have started off with three members of staff, but once the whisky is on the market, from 2016, we will be looking at taking on more people.

"We are aiming to make a high-quality malt that can sell on an international basis, and while the primary aim of the business is to become a successful whisky distillery, we are also looking to make a significant investment in Thurso and the surrounding area by creating permanent jobs."

At present there are no plans for visitor facilities at Wolfburn, now the northernmost mainland distillery in Scotland, though this element of the enterprise is up for review once the spirit comes of age.