Harris distillery

Harris distillery is a Scotch whisky and Gin distillery in Tarbert on the Isle of Harris, Scotland.[1] The distillery was the first legal distillery ever built on Harris.[1][2][3]

Harris distillery
Region: Island
LocationIsle of Harris
Founded2015
Water sourceAbhainn Cnoc a’Charrainn
No. of stills1 wash still
1 spirit still
Capacity230,000 L

History
The exterior of the Isle of Harris distillery still under construction in Tarbert, Harris in 2015.

Plans for the distillery began in 2011 with submission to the local council Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.[4] With the support of a £2.8 million combined grant from the Scottish Government and the Highlands and Islands Enterprise fund, building commenced in spring 2014.[1] The total investment for the original project was £10 million, with the remaining funding coming from private sources.[5][6] The distillery opened in October 2015 and commenced production on 17 December 2015.[1][7]

In 2016, BBC Alba produced a TV documentary about the first working year of the distillery.[8] By 2017, the distillery had welcomed over 144,000 visitors, including Charles, Prince of Wales, as well as receiving 17 awards for their products.[3][9][10]

In 2020, the distillery began sponsoring a virtual Cèilidh.[11] In January 2021, the distillery submitted plans to the Council for expansion, including a new maturation warehouse.[12]

In July 2021, the distillery launched an eco-friendly initiative to refill bottles.[13][14]

In autumn 2023, the distillery released its first single malt whisky.[15]

Facilities

The distillery stills were made in Siena, Italy by Frilli Impianti.[1] There is a visitor centre.[3]

Products

As well as a single malt whisky called The Hearach, the Gaelic word for a resident of Harris, the distillery makes a gin using botanicals including local sugar kelp seaweed.[1][16][17] As of 2017, over two tonnes of seaweed had been collected for the gin production.[3] Other botanicals in the gin include Juniper, Coriander, Angelica Root and Cassia Bark.[7] The gin is sold in a distinctive blue bottle[14] which won a Gold Award at the World Gin Awards in 2021.[7][18] The gin bottles are manufactured in Yorkshire by the Stolzle Glass Group.[9]

57.8976°N 6.8040°W / 57.8976; -6.8040

References
  1. Maclean, Charles (2016). Whiskypedia. A Gazetteer of Scotch Whisky. Edinburgh: Birlinn. pp. 240–241. ISBN 978-1-78027-401-0.
  2. "Isle of Harris Distillers". Scotch Whisky.com. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  3. "Isle of Harris Distillery ready to toast two years of success". Insider. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  4. "Plans for new distillery on the Western Isles". BBC News. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  5. "£10m funding push for first distillery on Harris". The Herald. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  6. "Isle of Harris distillery under construction". The Drinks Report. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  7. "The Isle of Harris Distillery has walked away with yet another prestigious award". Stornoway Gazette. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  8. "Druthag na Hearadh/A Little Drop of Harris". BBC. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  9. "Prince Charles quizzes reason behind Polish drinking glass during island distillery visit". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  10. "Building on fantastic success". Stornoway Gazette. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  11. "Isle of Harris distillery bringing island life to the world with virtual ceilidh". The Herald. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  12. "Isle of Harris Distillery submit plans for expansion". The Scotsman. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  13. "Sustainable Scotland: Isle of Harris Distillery launches eco-friendly Refill Project". The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  14. "Isle of Harris Distillery launches gin refill scheme to top up stunning bottles". Daily Record. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  15. ""The Hearach": Isle of Harris Distillery veröffentlicht ihren ersten Whisky • CaptainScotch.de". CaptainScotch.de (in German). 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  16. "First whisky distillery on Isle of Harris opened". BBC News. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  17. "Seaweed twist for Hebridean gin". BBC News. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  18. "Isle of Harris gin gets gold at the World Gin Awards 2021". The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
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