The award-winning Isle of Harris Distillery sits proudly in the heart of its home village, just yards from the harbour in East Loch Tarbert.
The distillery’s doors first opened in September 2015, when friends and family from the local community joined far-flung supporters of the enterprise to place the first peats on the freshly lit fire. Since then, hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world have passed through its doors to share in the island’s spirits and story. Founded by Anderson Bakewell, owner of Rodel House, the distillery set out to capture the very best of the island in every bottle, while creating sustainable local employment for this generation of islanders and those still to come. Also known as the Social Distillery, the team welcomes guests from February to December, offering regular tours and tastings, a well-stocked shop, and fireside drinks.
Head Distiller Norman Ian Mackay leads one of the youngest home-grown distilling teams in Scotland, crafting The Hearach single malt whiskies alongside the iconic Isle of Harris Gin.
Their inaugural whisky, released in 2023, is complex, elegant, and full of character, revealing itself over time, much like the island itself. Their second release is fully matured in Oloroso sherry butts, bringing an unmistakably bold richness to the spirit.
The gin, beautifully presented in its distinctive glass bottle, captures the island’s maritime nature through the use of local hand-harvested Sugar Kelp seaweed as its defining botanical. Together, this world-class range brings the best of Harris to the world, and you can sample and learn more about each expression on your next visit to the distillery.
