Isle of Harris Gin
Last updated 16 May 2026
The bottle that launched a thousand Instagram posts. Isle of Harris Gin uses sugar kelp hand-harvested from sea lochs around Harris as its signature botanical. The community-owned distillery in Tarbert has done more for the island’s economy than any other single business.
The Isle of Harris bottle is genuinely beautiful and the community-owned distillery is genuinely good for Harris. The gin itself is well-made, with a subtle and honest sugar-kelp character — but at £40+ it’s priced for the bottle and the brand more than the dram. As a gift it’s hard to beat. As a daily drinker, The Botanist is better value.
Tasting notes
A clean, dry contemporary gin with a subtle marine umami from the sugar kelp. The bottle is honestly more famous than the liquid — the gin itself is good but not transformative. The kelp character is restrained; you’ll notice it more in a martini than a G&T.
- Nose
- Juniper, fresh citrus peel, faint marine note
- Palate
- Dry juniper, gentle citrus, coastal umami in the mid-palate
- Finish
- Medium length, faintly briny, clean
Flavour profile
- juniper3/5
- citrus2/5
- floral1/5
- herbal2/5
- spice2/5
- sweet3/5
Botanicals
Nine botanicals built around hand-harvested sugar kelp from the sea lochs of Harris — the only gin to use this botanical as a signature
How it’s made
- Production
- Distilled in a single copper pot still in Tarbert. Sugar kelp is hand-harvested from the sea lochs of Harris by local divers and steeped in the gin during distillation.
- Still type
- Single copper pot still
- Base spirit
- Neutral grain spirit
Perfect serve
Walter Gregor’s tonic, pink grapefruit peel, heavy tumbler.
- Garnish
- Pink grapefruit peel
- Ratio
- 1:3
- Ice
- Big cubes — the gin can take cold without falling apart.
The classic Isle of Harris serve uses pink grapefruit instead of lemon — it lifts the juniper and works with the marine note. A subtler tonic lets the kelp come through.
Cocktails to make with Isle of Harris Gin
Harris Martini
Coupe
- 60ml Isle of Harris Gin
- 10ml dry vermouth
- Pink grapefruit peel
Stir gin and vermouth with ice for 30 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe. Express grapefruit oils over the surface and drop the peel in.
Food pairings
The marine note pairs with seafood beautifully — this is the gin to pour next to a plate of Scottish shellfish.
- Hand-dived scallops
- Fresh oysters
- Seared sea bass
- Smoked mackerel pâté
Where to buy
Supermarket availability
| Supermarket | Stocked | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| waitrose | Yes | £45 |
Visit the distillery
The distillery in Tarbert is one of the most attractive working distilleries in Scotland. Tours include the still room, a guided tasting, and time in the on-site canteen. Worth combining with a Harris road trip.
From £15
Book a tourFrequently asked questions
+Why is Isle of Harris gin so expensive?
A combination of small-scale production on a remote island, hand-harvested sugar kelp, the famously expensive bottle, and very strong demand. At £40+ you’re paying for the bottle and the story as much as the gin.
+Where can I buy Isle of Harris gin?
Direct from the Isle of Harris Distillery shop (online or in person), Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange, and Waitrose. Stock is intermittent in supermarkets — the distillery shop is the most reliable option.
+Is Isle of Harris gin worth the price?
For a gift or a special occasion, yes — it’s a beautiful bottle and a good gin with a story. As an everyday G&T pour, no — The Botanist gives you more for less. Buy it for the bottle and the kelp.
+Can you visit the Isle of Harris Distillery?
Yes — the distillery in Tarbert offers tours from £15. The visitor centre and on-site canteen are open without a tour booking. Combine it with the Harris beaches and a CalMac ferry trip.
Compare with similar gins
The Botanist
contemporary · islay
Made at the Bruichladdich whisky distillery on Islay, distilled with 22 hand-foraged Islay botanicals on top of nine classics. Run through the same 'Ugly Betty' Lomond still that's now spent more time making gin than the whisky it was originally built for.
Hendrick’s
contemporary · lowland
The gin that kicked off the contemporary-style boom in the early 2000s. Made at William Grant's Girvan distillery in Ayrshire using two different stills — a Carter-Head and a copper pot — before blending. The unusual dark apothecary bottle was designed to stand out, and twenty years later it still does.
Rock Rose
contemporary · highland
Distilled at Dunnet Bay in Caithness, just down the road from John o'Groats. Rock Rose uses local botanicals including rhodiola rosea — the wildflower that gives the gin its name and a distinctive earthy character.
Where to stay near Isle of Harris Distillers
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of Isle of Harris Gin's distillery.
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Plan your distillery visit
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