Isle of Harris

Introduction:

The Isle of Harris Whisky, known as ‘The Hearach’ (meaning a resident of Harris in Gaelic), is entirely distilled, matured, and bottled on the remote island. The distillery sources its water from the stream Abhainn Cnoc a ‘Charrain, which flows over the oldest rock on Earth. Surrounded by the Highlands on the east and the vast Atlantic on the west, the Isle of Harris distillery stands as one of Scotland’s most isolated distilleries.

While awaiting the release of the first Hearach Whisky, the distillery produces and sells Isle of Harris Gin. The anticipated Whisky will be free from chill-filtration or artificial coloring, embodying the essence, spirit, and nature of the Isle of Harris. The initial bottling of Hearach will be limited to 1,916 bottles, symbolizing the population of the island, and will carry an ABV of no less than 46%.

The Gin:

Isle of Harris Gin features sugar kelp as its key ingredient, a type of brown alga with a subtly sweet taste. This seaweed is sustainably harvested from local lochs during springtime and then dried. The distinctive maritime character of Isle of Harris Gin is derived from the seaweed, while traditional Gin botanicals such as juniper berries, coriander seeds, cassia bark, and angelica root provide the familiar spicy-sweet Gin flavor. Small quantities of orange peel, cubeb pepper, liquorice, and orris root accentuate the Gin’s maritime aroma. Distillation occurs in a small copper still named ‘The Dotach’, in memory of a fiery local woman who shared a similar small stature. The sugar kelp and other botanicals are individually macerated in alcohol-filled bags for 24 hours. The flavored spirit, excluding the sugar kelp, is then distilled in the Gin still together with the botanical-filled bag.

Unlike conventional Gin production, only the heart portion of the distillation is retained, with the heads and tails removed. The foreshots have high alcohol content but minimal flavor, while the faints possess diminished flavor and lower alcohol content. The distillers aim to capture the pure flavor of the heart by discarding the heads and tails, despite the additional cost. Each bottle of Isle of Harris Gin is filled and labeled by hand at the distillery.

Production:

The distillery employs soft water sourced from the rainwater stream Abhainn Cnoc a ‘Charrain, which has low mineral content. The Whisky production involves a wash still, holding 6,000 liters, and a spirit still, holding 3,500 liters.

Fermentation:

For their Whisky, Isle of Harris distillery utilizes medium-smoked barley with a phenolic content of 13 – 15ppm. The mash tun contains 1.5 tonnes of grist, which undergoes three lautering processes. This results in approximately 6,000 liters of mash, poured into eight washbacks made from common Douglas fir. Following a fermentation period of three to five days, Harris obtains a fruity wort with apple, pear, and tropical fruit aromas.

Warehouses:

Harris Whisky matures in ex-Kentucky Bourbon casks and Sherry casks from Huelva, Spain. These casks are stored in the distillery’s three warehouses situated along the banks of Loch an Siar near Ardhasaig. The slight temperature variations on the island, between summer and winter, facilitate the reductive maturation process of the Scottish Island Whisky from Harris.

History:

Established in 2015, the Isle of Harris Distillery was the brainchild of Anderson Burr Bakewell, who had deep ties to the island spanning over five decades. He aimed to address the local economy’s weakness and the resulting population decline. Embracing the ethos of a Social Distillery, the team exclusively consists of local residents. The five hired distillers, all newcomers to the Whisky industry, undergo specialized training to produce Harris Whisky. The leftover barley is provided to small-scale farmers on the island for their livestock, fostering community engagement. A ‘Nosing Panel’ from the local community convenes regularly to assess the spirits’ quality.

Visitor Centre:

The distillery’s visitor centre, adorned with a welcoming peat fire, attracts both locals and tourists. Open Monday to Saturday, it features a shop offering regional products and a canteen serving simple meals crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Guided tours of the distillery, including Whisky and Gin tastings, are available and typically last about an hour.

Visitor information:

Isle of Harris Distillery
Tarbert
Isle of Harris
HS3 3DJ
Tel: +44 (0)1859-502212
Email: info@harrisdistillery.com