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]
 | |
| Region: Island | |
|---|---|
| Location | Isle of Harris |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Water source | Abhainn Cnoc a’Charrainn |
| No. of stills | 1 wash still 1 spirit still |
| Capacity | 230,000 L |
History
edit
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, designed by John R. Coleman Architects,[5] building commenced in spring 2014.[1] 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.[1][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.[3][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
editThe distillery stills were made in Siena, Italy by Frilli Impianti.[1] There is a visitor centre.[3]
Products
editAs 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][17][18] 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.[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 Stolzle Glass Group.[10]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Maclean, Charles (2016). Whiskypedia. A Gazetteer of Scotch Whisky. Edinburgh: Birlinn. pp. 240–241. ISBN 978-1-78027-401-0.
- ^ "Isle of Harris Distillers". Scotch Whisky.com. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Isle of Harris Distillery ready to toast two years of success". Insider. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Plans for new distillery on the Western Isles". BBC News. 20 September 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Isle of Harris Distillery". Visit Outer Hebrides. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "£10m funding push for first distillery on Harris". The Herald. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Isle of Harris distillery under construction". The Drinks Report. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ a b c "The Isle of Harris Distillery has walked away with yet another prestigious award". Stornoway Gazette. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Druthag na Hearadh/A Little Drop of Harris". BBC. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Prince Charles quizzes reason behind Polish drinking glass during island distillery visit". The Press and Journal. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Building on fantastic success". Stornoway Gazette. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Isle of Harris distillery bringing island life to the world with virtual ceilidh". The Herald. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Isle of Harris Distillery submit plans for expansion". The Scotsman. 29 January 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Sustainable Scotland: Isle of Harris Distillery launches eco-friendly Refill Project". The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Isle of Harris Distillery launches gin refill scheme to top up stunning bottles". Daily Record. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ ""The Hearach": Isle of Harris Distillery veröffentlicht ihren ersten Whisky • CaptainScotch.de". CaptainScotch.de (in German). 11 October 2023. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ "First whisky distillery on Isle of Harris opened". BBC News. 25 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Seaweed twist for Hebridean gin". BBC News. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
- ^ "Isle of Harris gin gets gold at the World Gin Awards 2021". The Scotsman. Retrieved 27 September 2021.