Isle of Harris distillery
Scottish distillery
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Isle of Harris Distillery is a Scotch whisky and gin distillery in Tarbert on the Isle of Harris, Scotland.[2] The distillery was the first legal distillery ever built on Harris.[2][3][4]
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| Region: Island | |
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| Location | Tarbet, Isle of Harris HS3 3DJ, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 57.8976°N 6.8040°W |
| Owner | Isle of Harris Distillers Ltd |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Architect | John R. Coleman Architects[1] |
| Water source | Abhainn Cnoc a’Charrainn |
| No. of stills | 2 7000 litre wash still 5000 litre spirit still |
| Capacity | 230,000 L |
| Website | harrisdistillery |
| Location | |
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History
Plans for the distillery began in 2011 with a submission to the Western Isles council, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.[5] With the support of a £2.8 million combined grant from the Scottish Government and the Highlands and Islands Enterprise fund, and designed by John R. Coleman Architects,[1] building commenced in spring 2014.[2] The total investment for the original project was £10 million, with the remaining funding coming from private sources.[6][7] The distillery opened in October 2015 and commenced production on 17 December 2015.[2][8]
In 2016, BBC Alba produced a TV documentary about the first working year of the distillery.[9] By 2017, the distillery had welcomed over 144,000 visitors, including Charles, Prince of Wales, as well as receiving 17 awards for their products.[4][10][11]
In 2020, the distillery began sponsoring a virtual Cèilidh.[12] In January 2021, the distillery submitted plans to the Council for expansion, including a new maturation warehouse.[13]
In July 2021, the distillery launched an eco-friendly initiative to refill bottles.[14][15]
In autumn 2023, the distillery released its first single malt whisky.[16]
Facilities
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.[2][17][18] As of 2017, over two tonnes of seaweed had been collected for the gin production.[4] Other botanicals in the gin include Juniper, Coriander, Angelica Root and Cassia Bark.[8] The gin is sold in a distinctive blue bottle[15] which won a Gold Award at the World Gin Awards in 2021.[8][19] The gin bottles are manufactured in Yorkshire by the Stölzle Glass Group.[10]