Isle of Harris
Pair Isle of Harris with a round
Founded as a social enterprise to bring jobs to the Outer Hebrides, initially famous for its Isle of Harris Gin (with the distinctive sugar kelp botanical) while its Hearach single malt matured. The inaugural whisky release landed in 2023 — lightly peated, coastal, and very Hebridean.
Isle of Harris Distillery was founded as a social enterprise to bring jobs to the Outer Hebrides, and first became famous for its Isle of Harris Gin (the sugar kelp botanical is unique and extraordinary). The whisky (The Hearach, first released 2023) has been long anticipated and the initial releases show genuine quality: complex, maritime, and distinctive. The building in Tarbert is striking and the visitor experience is outstanding.
Visiting Isle of Harris
Contact distillery
Tarbert, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides
HS3 3DJ
- Shop
- Café/Restaurant
- Parking
Core range
The Hearach
46% ABV · Bourbon + oloroso sherry + STR red wine + Fino sherry; lightly peated
First whisky from Harris — released 2023 after 8 years' maturation. Layered four-cask vatting gives more complexity than most first releases.
- Nose:
- Soft peat, dried fruit, oak, salt spray.
- Palate:
- Complex — light peat, sherry, oak, faint citrus, mineral.
- Finish:
- Long, drying, gently smoky.
Food pairings
| Whisky | Food | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The Hearach | Harris smoked salmon or Harris seafood | The Hebridean maritime character suits island produce perfectly. |
Getting there
CalMac ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway (Lewis, 2.5 hr) or Uig (Skye) to Tarbert Harris (1.5 hr). Tarbert is the main village on Harris.
Where to eat nearby
- The AnchorageRestaurant
Tarbert harbour — good seafood.
- Isle of Harris Distillery caféCafé
On-site café with Harris produce.
Where to stay near Isle of Harris
Isle of Harris Distillery is in Tarbert, Harris — the main settlement on this stretch of the Outer Hebrides. The Harris Hotel in Tarbert is the traditional stay; there are also Airbnb and self-catering options across the island. The Luskentyre beach (10 miles south) is one of Scotland's finest. Getting here requires CalMac from Ullapool (2h 45m to Stornoway, then 60 miles south) or from Uig on Skye (1h 45m to Tarbert).
Tarbert — main accommodation option.
Various cottages across Harris.
Where to stay near Isle of Harris
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of Isle of Harris.
Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Location
Tarbert, Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides, HS3 3DJ
View on map →Frequently asked questions
+What is the sugar kelp botanical in the gin?
Isle of Harris Gin uses sugar kelp (seaweed) harvested from the waters around Harris as a key botanical, creating a distinctive salty, oceanic quality unlike any other gin.
+What is The Hearach?
The whisky from Isle of Harris Distillery, named for a person from Harris in Gaelic. First released in 2023 after years of anticipation.
+Where is Isle of Harris distillery?
Isle of Harris is in the Islands. Postcode HS3.
+When was Isle of Harris distillery founded?
Isle of Harris was founded in 2015, making it roughly 11 years old.
Compare with similar distilleries
Most similar in social enterprise ethos to GlenWyvis (community owned). Spirit style closest to a maritime, coastal unpeated Hebridean.
Free: The Scottish Whisky Tasting Guide
How to nose, taste and find your dram — the five regions explained, no snobbery. Sent straight to your inbox.
Free. No spam — unsubscribe from any email. You'll join the TasteSCOT list.
Related articles
10 min read
Visiting Scottish Whisky Distilleries: The Complete Speyside & Islay Guide
How to plan a Scottish distillery visit and actually get to taste — how tours and bookings work, what Speyside and Islay are like, and how to get there and around without giving up your dram to the steering wheel.
6 min read
Every Co-op Whisky: Prices, Value & What's Worth Buying
Co-op's own-label Scotch range is small and rotates, centring on the Irresistible single malts — a no-age-statement Highland and an award-noted 12-year-old — plus a budget blend. The real range, prices and value.
6 min read
Every Morrisons Whisky: Prices, Value & What's Worth Buying
Morrisons' own-label whisky is thinner than most rivals': a "The Best" blended malt and a budget blend, rather than a row of age-stated single malts. The real range, honest prices, value per unit, and what's actually worth buying.