Isle of Harris Distillery, the first whisky distillery on the island of Harris, has officially announced the launch date of its highly anticipated single malt, The Hearach.
The Hearach Single Malt will go on sale from 10am on Saturday 23 September 2023 at the distillery shop and from the online store at www.harrisdistillery.com. This marks the first legal dram produced on the Isle of Harris, a small island on the far-northwest coast of Scotland.
The Hearach was distilled, matured, married and bottled in Harris by local distillery workers, and is said to bear the influence of its Outer Hebridean home. This includes the use of low-mineral water sourced from the Abhainn Cnoc A'charrain, the softest of any Scottish Distillery, and maturation in Harris' oceanic climate. According to whisky lecturer Dr Gordon Steele, who was involved in the creation of the Hearach:
"Our mission for the Hearach was to create a dram of balanced complexity and character, one which would reflect the people and the place. We harness the contribution of the Harris elements to this end, with the human touch of our local distillers providing the final defining part."
The bottle was designed by Stranger and Stranger, with the full design set to be revealed in September.
While the Hearach is their debut whisky expression, the Isle of Harris Distillery has already been a long-term producer of the popular Isle of Harris Gin, notably made with Sugar Kelp seaweed as a key botanical.
Managing director Simon Erlanger says:
"It’s been 15 years since Burr Bakewell formed the Isle of Harris Distillery Company.We’ve always said that the whisky would be ready when it’s ready, so it’s a big moment to finally announce a launch date, which will be the distillery’s 8th birthday. Back then, we hosted the biggest ceilidh the island had seen- at this one we’ll have a historic dram to toast the island with!"
The Hearach will be bottled at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered and free from artificial colouring. It would be matured in ex-bourbon casks, oloroso and fino butts.
Images courtesy of Isle of Harris Distillery.
Kanpai!
88 Bamboo Editorial Team
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