Private Dining Experience

Enjoy a private dining experience at 8 Doors Distillery with exclusive use of our Whisky Lounge and Tasting Room.

You’ll start your evening with a whisky cocktail or drink of your choice in our lounge before moving to the Tasting Room for an exceptional six course menu. After dinner, return to our lounge for coffee, our liqueur and a sweet treat. Optional extras available and we’ll help you build a package to create your perfect evening.

Maximum group size is 10 people. Dates are extremely limited so booking early is recommended.

  • 874 Club

    Exclusive Use

    A unique opportunity to have exclusive use of our Lounge and Tasting Room for your Private Dining Experience.

  • 8 Doors Private Dining Food

    Six Course Set Menu

    Select your six course menu from our available options and taste amazing produce from Caithness and the Highlands.

  • Chef Callum Moodie

    Chef: Callum Moodie

    Born locally, Callum’s passion for our incredible local produce is reflected in his mouth watering menu options.

Private Dining at 8 Doors

Available Dates in 2024

  • Sat 24th August

  • Sat 28th September

  • Sat 26th October - BOOKED

  • Sat 30th November - BOOKED

Pricing

  • Groups of 8-10 people: £135 per head

  • Groups of 6 or 7 people: £155 per head

  • Groups of 5 or less: please contact us

What’s included in the price?

  • Exclusive use of the Distillery Lounge and Tasting Room from 6:30pm

  • Arrival drink (Cocktail, Whisky, Wine, Beer or Soft drink)

  • Our Private Chef will create an exceptional Six Course Menu for your group (full group to have same menu, unless vegan/vegetarian/dietary requirement)

  • 3 drinks of your choice throughout meal

  • Coffee/Tea in Lounge after dinner with sweet treat and Five Ways liqueur

  • Evening ends at 11:30pm

What can be added as optional extras?

Our Brand Home Manager, Libby will work with you to create your perfect package. If you want to add some extras these can be added for an additional cost. Some examples are:

  • Whisky Tasting Flights

  • Champagne

  • Flowers

  • Gifts for your guests

  • Additional decoration

  • Piper

  • Highland Dancers

Six Course Set Menu Options

Scroll below to see all 5 Menu Options

Your Chef: Callum Moodie

We’re thrilled to announce that we have partnered with chef Callum Moodie to create this exclusive private dining experience at 8 Doors Distillery.

Callum was born and brought up only 15 miles from the distillery so understands the local area and the amazing produce we have on our doorstep. Callum’s career has seen him work in a number of excellent local hotels in the Caithness area as Sous Chef, before joining The Carnegie Club in Skibo Castle in 2022, where he is now Senior Chef de Partie.

Callum’s passion is culinary excellence and showcasing the best ingredients the Scottish Highlands can offer. He enjoys taking traditional Scottish ingredients and using innovative techniques to create something truly special.

Callum’s focus on local ingredients can be seen throughout the menu options.

“I’m really excited to work with Kerry, Derek and the team at 8 Doors to create an exceptional dining experience in John O’Groats.”

Our First Private Dining Experience

We recently hosted the private dining experience ourselves for a special family occasion and the food was phenomenal! Images below show our menu for the evening which was: Tempura Langoustine; Celeriac Veloute, Scrabster Scallops; Apple Jelly with Seven Sons Granita; Roast Sirloin of Beef, and Five Ways Panna Cotta, all topped off with an Old Fashioned and some Five Ways truffles. What a night!

Get in touch here if you’d like to book one of our available dates.

Private Dining FAQs

When can I book the Private Dining Experience?

Booking is available now - send an email to this address and we’ll allocate space on a first-come first-served basis.

We’ve currently only released dates up to the end of 2024, and will release more into 2025.

If you are interested in a date outside of those published, please contact us and we can see if possible.

Available Dates in 2024

  • Sat 24th August

  • Sat 28th September

  • Sat 26th October - NOW BOOKED

  • Sat 30th November - NOW BOOKED

Do I have to book for a group of 10 people?

No, 10 is the maximum number of people. We welcome smaller groups but please be aware the price per head will be higher if there is a lower number of people attending. This is due to the time required by the chef to prepare all six courses and costs for running the evening regardless of group size.

How much does it cost?

  • Groups of 8-10 people: £135 per head

  • Groups of 6 or 7 people: £155 per head

  • Groups of 5 or less: please contact us

How long does it last?

Your evening begins at 6:30pm, and closes at 11:30pm

What’s included in the price?

  • Exclusive use of the Distillery Lounge and Tasting Room from 6:30pm

  • Arrival drink (Cocktail, Whisky, Wine, Beer or Soft drink)

  • Our Private Chef will create an exceptional Six Course Menu for your group (full group to have same menu, unless vegan/vegetarian/dietary requirement)

  • 3 drinks of your choice throughout meal

  • Coffee/Tea in Lounge after dinner with sweet treat and Five Ways liqueur

  • Evening ends at 11:30pm

Can I change the menu?

You can make your selection from the Set Menu’s detailed above. If you’d like to swap a dish from one menu to another, please ask. The full group must have the same menu unless there is a vegetarian, vegan or dietary requirement. Please let us know and we’d be delighted to accommodate.

Do you cater for vegetarian/vegan or other dietary requirements?

Yes. Please contact us with any requirements.

What about allergies?

Please make us aware of any allergies in advance. Allergy sheets can be provided in advance of the meal.

Can you hold a date for me while I check availability with my friends?

We may be able to hold a date for you for up to 48hrs, but please check with us first.

When do I have to pay?

To secure your booking, we require a non-refundable £150 deposit.

50% prepayment is required 30 days before your event.

Payment in full is required 14 days before your event.

Any additional charges incurred on the evening (e.g. bar tab) must be settled before you leave.

What is your cancellation policy?

Cancellation of a booking within 30 days of your event = 50% of the fee.

Cancellation of a booking between 21 and 14 days prior to the event = 70% of the fee.

Cancellation of the booking less than 14 days prior to the event = 100% of the fee.

Can children join?

This experience is only available for age 16 or over.

What’s the maximum number of people you can cater for?

Meals in the tasting room are for a maximum of 10 people. We may look at accommodating larger groups in the Lounge, please contact us with any enquiries.

What can be added as optional extras?

Our Brand Home Manager, Libby will work with you to create your perfect package. If you want to add some extras these can be added for an additional cost. Some examples are below, but please ask if you have something else in mind and we’ll see what we can arrange.

  • Whisky Tasting Flights

  • Champagne

  • Flowers

  • Gifts for your guests

  • Additional decoration

  • Piper

  • Highland Dancers

Do you offer private tours as part of this evening?

If you want to add on a distillery tour to your evening, please let us know and we can add to the package.

Is your tasting room accessible by wheelchair?

No, the tasting room is up a flight of 7 steps and is therefore currently inaccessible by wheelchair. If you are using a wheelchair or won’t be able to manage the steps to the tasting room, please contact us to discuss hosting your dinner in the lounge area.

We have an accessible parking spot close to the distillery door (accessed via the back of the site), and there is ramped access from the main car park at the front of the distillery. We have an accessible toilet in the whisky lounge area.

I will be driving or don’t want to take any drinks, can I get a cheaper price?

We have a set price for our private dining experience so cannot offer a discount. We do have a wide range of soft drinks available as alternatives.

Do you provide transport?

No, we’re sorry we don’t have any dedicated transport, but we are more than happy to help you arrange this with local providers. Please ask Libby when she is creating your package.

I have another question not covered here, what do I do?

Please contact the distillery team and we’ll be happy to help. You can email us here or give us a call.


Set Menu Options:

Menu 1

Haggis Scotch Egg

-  Seven Sons whisky sauce –

 Caramelised Onion Risotto

-  feta, thyme –

 Confit Salmon

- chive, wild rice, lemon –

 Granny Smith Apple Jelly

-  Seven Sons whisky granita –

 Fillet of Scotch Beef

-  whipped mash, carrot, red wine sauce –

 Five Ways Liqueur Panna Cotta

-  rhubarb, granola, sorrel -

  

Menu 2

 Tartlet of Ox Cheek

-truffle-

 Potato and Watercress Velouté

- parmesan sable-

 Scrabster Crab

-cucumber, apple, horseradish-

 Granny Smith Apple Jelly

- Seven Sons whisky granita-

 Free Range Breast of Chicken

-mushroom, hazelnut, straw potatoes, madeira jus-

 Dark Chocolate Fondant

-cherries, cocoa crumb-

 

 Menu 3

 Tempura Langoustine

-jalapeno tartare sauce, chervil-

 Heritage Beetroot Salad

-goats cheese, pear, walnut-

 Scrabster Hake

-mussels, curry coconut cream, coriander, lime-

 Granny Smith Apple Jelly

-  Seven Sons whisky granita –

 Highland Venison Loin

-red cabbage, potato fondant, sauce poivrade-

 Lemon Tart

-crème fraiche, chocolate-

 

 Menu 4

 Strathdon Blue Cheese Mousse

-cheese biscuit, walnut-

 Butternut Squash Velouté

-chilli, coconut-

 Scrabster Scallop

-cauliflower, maple, bacon, coriander-

 Granny Smith Apple Jelly

-  Seven Sons whisky granita -

 Rump of Cairngorm Lamb

-jersey royals, mint, peas, lamb sauce-

 Salted Caramel Cheesecake

-butterscotch, vanilla-

  

Menu 5

 Chorizo Doughnut

-romesco-

 Ham Hock Terrine

-piccalilli, parsley, sourdough-

 Ravioli of Langoustine and Salmon

-shellfish bisque-

 Granny Smith Apple Jelly

-  Seven Sons whisky granita –

 Roast Sirloin of Beef

-potato terrine, ox cheek, broccoli, jus-

 Seven Sons Whisky Crème Brule

-shortbread, raspberries-