Notes and Reviews for Whiskey Ring Podcast Episode 177: Isle of Harris Distillery with Shona Macleod and Iona Cairns

Sugar Kelp, A Little Peat, And A Vision For The Future

I first heard about - well, read about - Isle of Harris Distillery in Dave Broom's A Sense of Place. A small community known for its beauty, its tweed, and its declining population, its would-be savior was not a Scot at all, but an American who had grown fond of the area (owning an island nearby) and wanted to save it.

Anderson “Burr” Bakewell had first come to the area in the 1960s and had seen the loss of people generation after generation. He’d also seen the cycles of boom and bust that had doomed so many previous ventures seeking to draw people back to the island.

A distillery - not one that would fall into the cycle, but one built for generational growth. It would be of the island - Hearach - and for the Hearach, the islanders.

Its gin shocked the market, being both simple and elegant. Flavored with sugar kelp harvested by hand nearby and in a Stranger & Stranger-designed waveform bottle (guests on Episode 74), it rode the wave of gins right at the crest to such success that the whisky could continue to age.

In 2023, The Hearach Single Malt debuted to stunning fanfare. The Tarbert Ten - the original 10 employees - had grown to 50, with more growth ahead and long-term sustainability in mind. If that's not enticing enough, just take a listen - there's something to love here, a great deal, in fact, and I'm thrilled to have taken the time to bring you their story.

Want to hear more of Isle of Harris’ story? Listen to the Whiskey Ring Podcast at whiskeyringpodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts!

Thank you to Isle of Harris Distillery for providing these bottles free of charge. All opinions are my own.

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The Hearach Isle of Harris Single Malt Scotch Whisky: Specs

Classification: Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Producer: Isle of Harris Distillery

Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley

Proof: 92 (46% ABV)

Age: NAS

Barrel Type: Ex-Bourbon, Ex-Oloroso, and Ex-Fino Casks

Location: Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides, Scotland

The Hearach Isle of Harris Single Malt Scotch Whisky Price: $59.99

Official Website

The Hearach Isle of Harris Single Malt Scotch Whisky: Tasting Notes

Eye: Very pale gold. Thin rims and legs, irregular drops.

Nose: Sweet peat, orchard wood burning far away. A touch of proof or spice goes up my nose, just a flash. Golden apples and some pear open up behind the peat, especially the pear, as the peat remains mild and sweet. Barley/malt sweet as well, inviting.

Palate: Soft and sweet, fresh pressed apple juice with a dare I say bright peat around the edges and on the front third of my tongue. Grilling fruits on charcoal, sweet barley giving wonderful caramel sauce and turbinado sugar. Mouthfeel is relatively hefty for a 92º, not oaky but the barrel has definitely helped. Creamy like pastry cream, with vanilla opening. Just a bit dry on the end with sweet barbecue notes.

Finish: Peat reasserts more strongly with smoky vanilla and apple and pear tarte tatin, again the pear seeming to rush forward flavor-wise. Beautifully fruity, summery in the extreme. Drizzle this with ice cream for a great evening dram. Medium long and coating.

Overall: Not as much of a sweet bomb as my notes may indicate, but decisively fruity, orchards in peak late summer and freshly pressed juices. The peat really is that sweet - I want to know why? A wonderfully inviting dram that was pulled at just the right time for peat, barley, barrel, and age to be in harmony. Exceptional.

Final Rating: 8.1