Countdown to new single malt whisky from Harris

After eight years in the making the inaugural malt whisky from the Isle of Harris Distillery is ready to be launched.

The inaugural dram will be poured on Friday 22 September, less than three weeks away.

While its name - The Hearach - has been long known, the shape, features and label of the bottle remains a tight-lipped secret until release day.

World-leading agency Stranger and Stranger pleased distillery bosses so much with the now iconic gin bottle that they were challenged to deliver another impressive design to pay homage to The Hearach.

The launch event during the day and a celebratory cèilidh in Tarbert community centre that evening, are both private events, as the hall lacks space to welcome everyone.

However, for locals and visitors on the island, there's still an opportunity to get involved and be one of the first to taste The Hearach.

The distillery extends a warm invitation to support the ‘fringe’ events in the local hotel bars where people can enjoy live music and sample the whisky from 7pm.

Whisky lovers across the globe can join the launch ceremony via a live stream of the momentous occasion on www.harrisdistillery.com/behere

Live Gaelic singing performances will mark the occasion, alongside speeches from a number of the team, before the first dram is tasted.

Each and every element of the malt whisky symbolises the incredible location it calls home – distilled, matured, married and bottled by Hearachs, its flavour has been strongly influenced by its island home and is a spirit of complexity and character says the distillery.

Simon Erlanger, managing director at Isle of Harris Distillers, said: “The Hearach has been many years in the making, so we’re delighted to be able to share it with the world later this month.

“A delicious single malt, it encapsulates the feel and flavour of life on Harris, bringing the island to lovers of fine spirits in much the same way as our ever-popular gin does.

“Most importantly though, as with our gin, it has been created with the future growth of the island in mind – from employment opportunities to wider support of the island economy.

“We look forward to marking the occasion in true Harris style, with a cèilidh joined by friends from near and far.”

The first seven batches of The Hearach single malt will be available to purchase on Saturday 23 September at 10am, both online via the Harris Distillery website and at the distillery itself.

The whisky will then be made available from October in bars, restaurants, and specialist retailers across the UK and in over 20 countries globally.

Opened in 2015, the distillery was built to act as a symbol of hope and optimism for the Harris community by creating sustainable jobs for local people and supporting the wider island economy for generations to come.

Starting life with a team of just 10 locals, today the distillery employs some 48 full-time staff, making it the biggest private employer in Harris.

The distilling team is testament to the company’s commitment to the development of young people’s careers, with four distillers with an average age of 25 making whisky under the mentorship of head distiller, Norman Ian Mackay.

The Hearach is coming - countdown to first ever malt whisky from Harris

5 September 2023