Harris distillery

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The exterior of the Isle of Harris distillery in Tarbert, Harris in 2015.

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]

History[]

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]

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][15][16] 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][17] The gin bottles are manufactured in Yorkshire by the Stolzle Glass Group.[9]

Coordinates: 57°53′51″N 6°48′14″W / 57.8976°N 6.8040°W / 57.8976; -6.8040

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f Maclean, Charles (2016). Whiskypedia. A Gazetteer of Scotch Whisky. Edinburgh: Birlinn. p. 240-241. ISBN 978-1-78027-401-0.
  2. ^ "Isle of Harris Distillers". Scotch Whisky.com. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b c "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "Isle of Harris Distillery launches gin refill scheme to top up stunning bottles". Daily Record. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  15. ^ "First whisky distillery on Isle of Harris opened". BBC News. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  16. ^ "Seaweed twist for Hebridean gin". BBC News. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Isle of Harris gin gets gold at the World Gin Awards 2021". The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
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