Lock-Ins, Campfire Tales & Pudding at 2am: The Night Vanthology Came to Life

On Day 2 of our NC500 road trip, we rolled into John O’Groats Brewery — cold, a bit road-weary, but ready for a dram and a story. What we found inside that stone-walled, fire-lit taproom was something much more memorable: a room full of strangers who felt instantly like old friends.

There were travelers from the Netherlands, Americans chasing the northern lights, and even a couple from Leeds — just down the road from us in Doncaster. No one had planned to meet here. But that’s the thing about vanlife: it draws in the same kind of people — the curious, the laid-back, the story-collectors. By the time the bar officially “closed,” no one moved. So the bartender locked the door and kept pouring.

We drank Scottish whisky long into the night, sharing road trip tales, van breakdowns, wild camping spots, and dreams of future journeys. It was one of those rare moments where time stood still and the road paused just long enough to let connection in.

Now, if you're wondering where Rolo was — he was probably curled up in the van, smarter than his human companion (me, Si), who bowed out early after one too many Highland pours. Lew, ever the adventurer, stayed on… and later stumbled back to the van at 2am and made a full pudding. Or so we assume — we woke up to a chaotic mess of cooking gear and pudding ingredients, but no memory of it being made. The mystery lives on.

That evening was pure magic. No Instagram. No sales pitch. No agenda. Just humans brought together by a shared love of travel, freedom, and the open road — which is what Vanthology is all about.

We’ll never forget that night. It wasn’t just about whisky and laughter. It was a moment that helped shape why we started this brand — to bottle that same spirit, share it with others, and create a space where every journey really is a verse.

Cheers to lock-ins, late-night puddings, and the kind of strangers who feel like old friends.

— Si
Co-founder, Vanthology