'The Social Distillery' - Distilling Two Spirits with One Purpose in the Outer Hebrides. Makers of Isle Of Harris Gin and 'The Hearach' Single Malt Whisky.
It’s a very special day today. At 3pm our casked spirit officially becomes whisky. After 3 years in wood, we will now have the first legal dram from the Isle of Harris... 🥃
#TheHearach
Bahamas or Belize, Mauritius or the Maldives? No, this is the Isle of Harris, and when the sun shines, there's nowhere in world that can compare… 📸 Thanks to
@hopeblamire
for capturing the summer spirit of our island the week. Check out her new exhibition at
@TallaNaMara
! ☀️
As of 3pm today, the world welcomed its first legal Isle of Harris whisky. After three years and a day in an oak cask, our first island spirit officially became a dram. Here’s Head Distiller Kenny Maclean filling his inaugural glass. 🥃
#thehearach
89 years ago today, at 5am, the last 36 native islanders of remote Hirta, St Kilda left their homes for the final time. Bound for new and very different lives, their departure marked the end of 4000 years of continual inhabitance.
After raising the first dram in Harris this afternoon, we're delighted to share a wee look at The Hearach single malt whisky with you. Available to order from 10.00 BST on 23.09.23. from
We’re pleased to support the efforts of
@essenceofharris
and provide the alcohol required to help make much-needed hand-sanitiser for our local community. More soon...
Good morning from the new Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year 2018! After last night’s celebrations it’s back to work today, doing what we do best. Do join us here in Tarbert if you can, a warm welcome from our island team always awaits.
All 8 batches are now sold out online. What an incredible start to our whisky story.
If you missed out, bottles are available at the distillery, in UK retailers from October 2nd, and globally from October.
We'll have more to say shortly but for now...Mòrain Taing!
It's World Whisky Day, and we're proud to announce our first, historic dram will be launched on 22nd September 2023.
The Hearach Single Malt Whisky is woven from People and Place, with every drop made by Harris hands here in our elemental island.
Learn more about our whisky,
We’re delighted to learn that Isle of Harris Gin has been voted the nation’s favourite Scottish gin for the 2nd year running. In the poll by the Scottish Gin Society
@scottish_gin
, we took 21% of over 6400 votes. Thank you to all our happy customers! 🙏
⭐️ Scottish Gin Distillery Of The Year 2021⭐️
A sincere thanks to the team at every level, to all our customers, friends, partners, fellow islanders, and followers out there for being part of this wonderful endeavour!
Time to raise a glass and say "Slàinte mhòr!" to you all! 🍸
The team gathered at 9am today to see the very first 7 bottles of The Hearach single malt whisky being filled by 7 of our founding staff. It was a wonderful moment, and one we’ll all remember. So, here’s to The Hearach and all the bottles still to come!
The road to Luskentyre follows a winding single-track leading to the turquoise waters of its famous sandy white beach. And while Beinn Dubh and Beinn Losgaintir might look unremarkable, their position overlooks not only the sands but also the north Harris hills.
#harrisathome
Tonight, we’re delighted to announce Isle of Harris Gin has arrived in US waters! We’ll soon be available in Texas, California, and Illinois initially, with more States to follow. More details of how, where, and when to buy to follow over the coming weeks. 🏴 🤝🇺🇸
We're proud to announce that thanks to your continued support, we're now able to recruit a sixth local distiller. This will also be our first distilling apprenticeship, and we invite all young islanders who wish to build a career in the art and craft of spirit-making to apply. 🥃
Our ceremony-going staff have just returned to the island safe and sound, with the
@ScotGinAwards
‘Gin Distillery of the Year 2018’ award now proudly on display in its new home here in the heart of the Isle of Harris. 🏆
The Hearach weekend draws to a happy close. By creating sustainable local jobs, we act as a catalyst of change and a symbol of promise for this generation and those still to come. Mòran taing for joining us as we set out with Two Spirits, One Purpose...
The sun has come out and we've blue skies all around here in Harris so take a minute this Thursday afternoon to listen to the waves crashing on the shores of Seilebost ☀️🌊
#pause
Although The Hearach Single Malt is still some years away from release, today the spirit became legal whisky. A momentous moment for our team of local Harris distillers who have been trained from scratch in their new craft. Here’s the moment they took their first taste… 🥃👏
Tonight, we introduce The Harris Cèilidh Bottle, handmade by
@RupertBlamire
and each one is unique...
Learn more about our Harris Cèilidh plans via
Or order now while limited stocks last at
🎶
As we all stay home and get to grips with home working or home schooling it’s important to take a few minutes each day to relax and reflect. For those who may not have access to the seaside right now here are a few moments of island calm direct from Harris.
Our managing director
@IOHD_Simon
was invited by
@ScotGovFM
to a reception at Bute House to celebrate his recent
@IoD_Scotland
award. He was delighted to bring along a bottle of his own to present to
@NicolaSturgeon
and we hope she enjoys her Isle of Harris G&T! 🏴🍸
Delighted to support
@essenceofharris
in producing hand-sanitiser for local key workers and frontline staff. Thank you to everyone out there who is working selflessly to keep us safe. 🙏🙌👏
We're delighted to be working with the talented
@RupertBlamire
to create hand-thrown mugs inspired by our bottle & island home. The set contains two mugs, complimentary tea-strainers and a sample of Isle of Harris Gin Tea from
@eteaket
Visit to order.
Demand for our Cèilidh bottles has well & truly outstripped supply. We're working on a fairer solution to the problem & the next release is on temporary hold. Stay tuned for updates and rest assured, we'll do our best to ensure everyone who wants, gets hold of one eventually. 🙏
The Harris Distillery team were out distributing
@essenceofharris
hand sanitiser today while maintaining a safe social distance! Proud to help local key workers and health care staff safe in these difficult times. 🙏 more via
The road to Hushinish is filled with many twists and turns and while it might seem never ending the single-track will eventually lead to golden sands and the most westerly point in Harris.
#harrisathome
Our thanks to the wonderful
@Nigella_Lawson
for her Instagram post on Isle of Harris Gin. “This is the most delicious gin I have ever ever tasted…I am now exquisitely if expensively converted. A wee nip to sip, as it is, on the rocks, is just perfect.” High praise indeed! 🙌❤️
We give our staff paid days to help volunteer on local community projects. Today, we were pitching in to renovate an old abandoned bus, as work to convert it into a camping facility for the local scout troop got underway!
#islandspirit
💪🚌🧽🧹
Meet Harris the Border Terrier, named after his owner Jennie’s love of our island gin. We’re assured this is just a post-walkies snooze and not a post-drinks nap… 🐾
A first look at our beautiful new Isle of Harris Martini glasses, designed to ensure the most sophisticated of serves. Presented in bespoke gift packaging alongside exclusive Martini recipes to enjoy.
#themartiniproject
Available now from our online shop:
Now we’ve regained our composure, THANK YOU to all our customers and followers for your continued support. Thanks also to our wonderful team in Tarbert and the wider distillery family. We’re incredibly proud to be putting the Isle of Harris on the distilling map.
@ScotGinAwards
The Hearach is currently on sale in our online shop. A digital queuing system is in place but waiting times are low. Batches 1-4 are now sold out but we have allocations of 5-8 still available. Bottles are priced at £65.00 including free shipping. Slàinte!
After decades of stark population decline, at the last census there were just 1,916 people living in the Isle of Harris. The distillery was built to help our community positively address this issue. Support our work by becoming one of The 1,916. More via:
Next Thursday, we'll have our first ever distillery tour held entirely in our native tongue. Call 01859 502212 to book your place.
Tha sinn a' coimhead air adhart ri fàilte bhlàth a chuir oirbh chun a chiad turas Gàidhlig againn aig an Taigh-staile!
A very special bottle of Isle of Harris Gin from the first batch of our island spirit made this year, and the first to be made by our distilling apprentice Rebekah Morrison. Signed by her fellow distillers to keep as a momento of this historic moment. 👏
@NicolaSturgeon
@Anne_Hidalgo
We’re proud to be with you in spirit to represent the best of Scottish Gin! We hope
@Anne_Hidalgo
enjoys her taste of the Outer Hebrides... Santé / Slàinte! 🏴🍸🇫🇷
‘Hearach’ is a Scottish Gaelic word for a native of Harris, and might be a little tricky to properly pronounce.
So, we’ve made a wee film to help you Say The Hearach with us.
Please have a go, and share with your friends so they can say The Hearach with us too!
#saythehearach
Tonight we thank you for your patience as we contact the winners of our Harris Cèilidh Bottle raffle. The 300 lucky men & women from Draw
#1
will be notified via email by Friday 6th November. Thank you to everyone who has entered and the very best of luck to you all. 🙏
In the west coast village of Seilebost you’ll find a layby loved by both locals and visitors alike. With views to Taransay and with waters turning various shades of blue throughout the year, it is little wonder the spot is so well frequented.
#harrisathome
Good morning from the Isle of Harris. As we face the new day together, but apart, we hope this finds you and your families safe and well.
#harrisathome
#stayconnected
One of the distillery team, Stephen Passmore, is also a Harris Tweed weaver. It was a delight to visit his loom shed for an insight into all the craftsmanship that goes into producing this luxury product. This week he is weaving the Distillery Harris Tweed.
Have you wandered the golden sands of Scarista? Breathing in the fresh sea air while listening to the waves crashing along our shores provides the perfect location to take time to yourself
#harrisathome
Big smiles in Harris today as we receive news of our Isle of Harris Gin voted Scotland's favourite for the third year running🏆Our heartfelt thanks go to you for your continued support & enthusiasm and a huge congratulations go the many Scottish gins
@scottish_gin
🎉
#Sl
àinte
Our first whisky bottles will soon be joined by others as we release more batches from Harris, and bring new expressions and experiments to the fore. Thank you for being part of our plans, The Hearach story is just beginning...
Learn more at
Tomorrow sees 'The Hearach' arrive on the shelves of over 100 UK stockists. More details on who these stockists are, what batch availability they'll have, and more will be shared on here tomorrow. Meantime, lots of our partners are already spreading the good news. Slàinte!
Tonight, we're delighted to announce the overall winner of our Harris Tweed Project competition to design our official distillery tweed. A huge congratulations to 14-year-old Scott Murray from Sir E. Scott School in Tarbert whose pattern now be specially woven here in Harris.
Thank you to everyone for all their good wishes and kind comments as our first cask became legal whisky yesterday. Still some years to go until release but we’re delighted with its progress so far. Taing mhòr dhan a h-uile duine 🙏🥃
After closing during the Covid crisis, we're delighted to reopen our café, with a shiny new espresso machine and lots of fresh home-baking.
We're so pleased to welcome back our former baker Irene Morrison who has been busy creating her legendary scones and cakes
#SocialDistillery
The Hearach single malt whisky goes on sale tomorrow.
Batches 1 - 8 will be available from 10.00 BST from the website shop and our distillery here in Tarbert.
Look out for bottles across the UK and world from October 2023.
Please visit for more.
First the bad news…the online price of a bottle of Isle of Harris Gin increases by £3 today 🙁 The good news is we now offer free delivery on all UK orders and our gift sets, Harris Cèilidh and Refill bottles all remain unchanged 😊 Thanks for your continued support!
The stormy theme continues in Harris this morning, bringing with it some stunning contrasts with sun one moment and hail showers the next. This wintery shower making its way across Ceapabhal chased me back into the office!
#harrisathome
#IsleofHarris
As weekdays and weekends begin to blur we awake to bright blue skies again. Although there are fewer opportunities to enjoy the good weather, we’re counting our blessings. Have a good start to your Friday.
#harrisathome
#stayconnected
The rippled glass of our Isle of Harris Gin bottle evokes the maritime elements of our island. Which element does it remind you of most? The wind blown machair grasses of Seilebost, the weathered rocks at Traigh an Iarr, the rippled sands of Luskentyre or simply the sea?
The seas of East Loch Tarbert were once much closer to West Loch Tarbert, allowing Vikings to pull ships across the land instead of sailing the longer route south. And it is from the old Norse words that our village gets its name, Tairbeart, meaning “draw boat”.
#harrisathome
Meet Lewis Mackenzie aka 'The Kelp Man', a superhero of the sea, who hand-gathers a beautiful seaweed botanical for us in a sustainable, seasonal harvest. We raise a glass to this devilishly debonair diver in a dry-suit, we couldn't make your Isle of Harris Gin without him…
Our distillery is closed on Sundays, traditionally a day of rest here in the Western Isles. It’s a chance to relax and unwind before we return to work tomorrow and begin our distilling once again. Have a peaceful end to your week!
Grant & Lorna have a brilliant food van at the top of the Golden Road.
While Lorna makes the most of local produce, Grant dives for scallops and is developing a smokehouse in their home village of Drinishader.
Fresh local seafood is the perfect partner to an Isle of Harris G&T🍸
A huge congratulations to our managing director
@IOHD_Simon
who has just been awarded SME Director of the Year 2018 at the
@The_IoD
awards! A fantastic acknowledgement of all his hard work as he leads our distillery’s success! Well done Simon, we’re all very proud! 👏👏👏