Kerry Campbell
Kerry Campbell helped bring whisky distilling back to one of Scotland’s most remote coastal communities, establishing a new chapter in the Highland region’s long distilling history. With her husband, she founded 8 Doors Distillery in John O’Groats, Caithness, where the Scottish mainland meets the Pentland Firth.
Born in September 1980, Kerry Elizabeth Campbell grew up in Caithness. Her husband, Derek, also grew up in the area, and their shared attachment to the region became central to their professional ambitions.
Kerry's introduction to whisky was considerably less formal than might be expected of a future distillery founder. At a family barbecue, she discovered that whisky mixed with ginger beer and fresh lime was a drink she enjoyed, overturning her earlier belief that whisky was not particularly appealing to her. The experience marked the beginning of an interest that developed into a shared ambition with Derek to establish their own distillery. For Kerry, whisky represented more than the contents of a bottle; its appeal included the occasions, relationships, and memories associated with sharing a drink.
In September 2018, while holidaying in Scotland's Western Isles, Kerry and Derek made the decision to turn their longstanding ambition into a business. The decision came during a visit to a deserted beach in wet and windy weather, a setting they subsequently recalled when explaining the origins of their distillery. They chose John O’Groats, a small coastal village famous as the northern endpoint of the traditional 874-mile journey from Land's End in southwestern England. Their proposed enterprise would combine whisky production with an experience designed to introduce visitors to the history, landscape, and character of Caithness.
The couple's ambitions also drew upon a genuine local distilling heritage. In 1826, James and George Sutherland had established a legal whisky distillery at Kirkstyle, near Canisbay Kirk, where barley was malted and spirits were produced using traditional equipment. That enterprise closed in 1837, leaving John O’Groats without a comparable operating whisky distillery for over 180 years. By selecting the same general locality, Kerry and Derek were restoring an industry that had once formed part of the area's agricultural and commercial life.
The name 8 Doors came from a local legend concerning Jan de Groot, the Dutch ferryman from whom John O’Groats takes its name. According to the story, De Groot had seven sons whose disagreements over family precedence prompted him to construct an eight-sided house, with eight separate entrances and an octagonal table. The arrangement ensured that no individual occupied the head of the table. Kerry and Derek adopted this distinctive piece of local folklore as the identity of their distillery, connecting their new business to a story already embedded in the region's history.
By October 2020, the Campbells had publicly launched their distillery project and begun introducing their plans to whisky enthusiasts. They assembled experienced industry advisers, including John Ramsay, whose career in Scotch whisky extended over four decades. Ramsay's participation provided specialist knowledge in whisky creation and maturation, while Kerry and Derek concentrated on establishing an independent distillery and developing its commercial identity. The project incorporated a visitor centre, tasting facilities, and a whisky lounge, creating a destination that could serve tourists as well as whisky collectors.
Before establishing 8 Doors, Kerry had worked in commercial development and marketing for British Telecom, bringing consumer products, including home Wi-Fi equipment and baby monitors, to market. Her responsibilities included product launches, advertising campaigns, and social media marketing, experience directly applicable to developing a new whisky brand. Her position had also required twice-monthly journeys from Caithness to London. Establishing 8 Doors allowed her to redirect that commercial experience toward a business rooted in her home community, while creating employment opportunities for other local residents.
On August 2, 2023, King Charles III officially opened 8 Doors Distillery, touring the facilities, sampling its spirits, and filling a 250-litre American oak cask previously seasoned with Pedro Ximénez sherry. The cask was designated for eventual charitable fundraising following maturation. For Kerry and Derek, the royal visit brought national recognition to an enterprise that had begun with a private decision on a remote Scottish beach five years earlier.
Kerry subsequently directed increasing attention toward international markets. In April 2025, she participated in a Scottish trade delegation to Expo Osaka, Japan, developing commercial relationships that contributed to additional export orders. With assistance from Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, 8 Doors expanded its overseas presence to Japan, Germany, and Singapore. By June 2026, exports accounted for nearly one-quarter of company turnover, demonstrating that a small independent Highland distillery could establish an international business while maintaining its local identity.
Kerry Campbell's contribution to Scotch whisky extends beyond the establishment of another distillery. She has combined experience in consumer marketing, regional heritage, and international business development to build a company whose commercial success remains closely associated with its geographical origins. At John O’Groats, where an earlier distillery disappeared in 1837, she and Derek have restored whisky production and created employment in a remote Highland community. Their achievement demonstrates that Scotland's whisky industry can draw upon centuries of tradition while providing opportunities for a new generation of independent entrepreneurs.
Sources:
8 Doors Distillery official website, 8doorsdistillery.com
Whisky Magazine, “Distilling on the Edge of Scotland at 8 Doors,” Gavin Smith, July 24, 2023, whiskymag.com
The Scotsman, “John O’Groats Distillery Reveals Name and Memberships Clubs”, 2020, foodanddrink.scotsman.com
Scottish Enterprise, “8 Doors Distillery Toasts Scotland’s Women Entrepreneurship in World-Wide Whisky Exports,” June 23, 2026, scottish-enterprise.com
Doors Open Days, “8 Doors Distillery,” September 2024, doorsopendays.org.uk
Contributed by Tracy McLemore, Fairview, Tennessee USA
