| Harris distillery | |
| Location: | Isle of Harris |
| Founded: | 2015 |
| Type: | Island |
| Stills: | 1 wash still 1 spirit still |
| Source: | Abhainn Cnoc a’Charrainn |
| Capacity: | 230,000 L |
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]
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]
In 2016, BBC Alba produced a TV documentary about the first working year of the distillery.[7] 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] [8] [9]
In 2020, the distillery began sponsoring a virtual Cèilidh.[10] In January 2021, the distillery submitted plans to the Council for expansion, including a new maturation warehouse.[11]
In July 2021, the distillery launched an eco-friendly initiative to refill bottles.[12] [13]
In autumn 2023, the distillery released its first single malt whisky.[14]
The distillery stills were made in Siena, Italy by Frilli Impianti.[1] There is a visitor centre.[3]
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.[17] The gin is sold in a distinctive blue bottle[13] which won a Gold Award at the World Gin Awards in 2021.[17] [18] The gin bottles are manufactured in Yorkshire by the Stolzle Glass Group.[8]