Town guide
Wick food & drink
Caithness coast — Old Pulteney Distillery, herring heritage, and Scotland's far north
Wick sits on the Caithness coast in the far north of mainland Scotland — once one of Europe's biggest herring ports, with hundreds of boats working from the harbour in the 19th century. Old Pulteney Distillery, founded in 1826 and located in the town itself, is the inheritor of that maritime heritage — its single malts (12 Year Old, 18 Year Old, and the Navigator) are widely regarded as Scotland's most genuinely maritime whiskies, with brine, salt, and a slight oiliness from the coastal warehouses. The Wick Heritage Museum tells the herring story. Outside the town: the John O'Groats end of the NC500 road trip is 25 minutes north, and Dunnet Bay Distillers (makers of Rock Rose Gin) are 30 minutes north-west on the Caithness coast.
Full Highlands food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
- Old Pulteney Distillery — Scotland's far-north single malt, founded 1826
- Old Pulteney has held World Whisky of the Year accolades (Jim Murray's Whisky Bible)
- Rock Rose Gin (Dunnet Bay Distillers) — 30 min north-west
- Wick Heritage Museum — the herring port story
Farmers markets in & near Wick
Whisky distilleries near Wick
Breweries near Wick
Scottish gin makers near Wick
Wick food & drink FAQ
+What's the best farmers market in Wick?
Inverness Farmers’ Market on Inverness (typically saturday). Next confirmed date: Saturday, 6 June 2026. We list every market within 70 km of Wick on this page.
+Where can I taste whisky near Wick?
6 distilleries within 70 km of Wick are open to visitors. 8 Doors Distillery, Old Pulteney, Wolfburn are the closest. Each has a full tour and tasting guide on its TasteSCOT page.
+When is the next food or drink festival in Wick?
No festivals scheduled in Wick or nearby in the near future. See our full 2026 festivals calendar for what's coming up across Scotland.
+Where should I stay in Wick for a food and drink trip?
Use the accommodation map below to find hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of central Wick. For multi-day Scottish food and drink trips, Wick is a sensible base if you want access to 7 distilleries and 1 breweries we cover in the surrounding 70 km.
+What is Wick known for in Scottish food and drink?
Old Pulteney Distillery — Scotland's far-north single malt, founded 1826. Old Pulteney has held World Whisky of the Year accolades (Jim Murray's Whisky Bible). Rock Rose Gin (Dunnet Bay Distillers) — 30 min north-west. Wick Heritage Museum — the herring port story.
Where to stay near Wick
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of central Wick.
Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.