|
Harris distillery
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] History 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] FacilitiesThe distillery stills were made in Siena, Italy by Frilli Impianti.[1] There is a visitor centre.[3] ProductsAs 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] 57°53′51″N 6°48′14″W / 57.8976°N 6.8040°W References
|
||||||||||||||
