Harris
After seven years of preparation, the Isle of Harris Distillery opened on 24 September 2015 as the first legal distillery on the remote Hebridean island of Harris – an initiative by Anderson "Burr" Bakewell, who has been connected to the island for over 50 years and wanted to counter its weak local job market.
The Isle of Harris Distillery deliberately describes itself as a "social distillery", creating around 20 vital jobs on an island where long-term employment is hard to find. From the Isle of Harris Gin to the single malt The Hearach, you will find the right bottle for every occasion in our selection.
Content: 0.7 Liter (€67.13 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€88.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€98.56 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.04 Liter (€199.75 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€132.84 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 1-3 business days
What does "social distillery" mean – and why was Harris founded because of it?
Anderson "Burr" Bakewell has been connected to the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides for over 50 years and initiated the seven-year effort to build the Isle of Harris Distillery, aiming to counter the island's weak local economy and population decline. The distillery, in the small village of Tarbert, explicitly describes itself as a "social distillery", creating around 20 vital, long-term jobs in a region where such positions are scarce. On 24 September 2015, the first legal distillery in Harris's history opened its doors.
Why did gin come before whisky?
Since whisky requires several years of cask maturation, the distillery first launched the Isle of Harris Gin, which quickly became one of the brand's best-known products and helped bridge the early years economically. The actual single malt, affectionately named "The Hearach" (Gaelic for "someone from Harris"), only followed once the necessary maturation time had passed.
Overview of the most popular bottlings
1. Isle of Harris Gin
The distillery's first major product.
Taste: Fresh and maritime with a sugar kelp note.
Serving suggestion: Classic in a gin and tonic.
2. The Hearach
The distillery's first single malt.
Taste: Maritime with a subtle smoky note and fruity sweetness.
Serving suggestion: For anyone wanting to discover one of the Hebrides' youngest distilleries.
Facts and figures
Location: Tarbert, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides. Founded: 2015 (opened after seven years of construction) by Anderson "Burr" Bakewell. Concept: "social distillery" with around 20 jobs.