Isle of Harris Distillery

The Isle of Harris Distillery officially opened in September 2015. Anderson Bakewell, a musicologist who owned land on the neighboring Scalpay Island, was deeply concerned about the declining population of Harris Island, which held a special place in his heart. Despite not being an avid whiskey enthusiast, he decided to establish the island's first distillery in Tarbert, the capital of the island and the ferry terminal to Skye. His vision was not only to engage the local community but also to create a business that would provide appealing long-term employment opportunities for the residents of Harris Island. Shortly after selecting a site along the main road that runs north to south through Tarbert, Bakewell's project secured the largest public grant ever awarded to the food and drink sector in Scottish history. This was followed by additional grants and private investments from around the world. The Isle of Harris Distillery initially employed 10 people at its opening, but now the number has grown to over 20. Until the first official bottling is released, the distillery focuses on producing and bottling Harris Gin. Harris Gin is crafted using nine botanicals that capture the elemental nature of the island's environment.