The ribbed turquoise bottle, reflecting the island’s crystal clear water. It’s the new jewel in the Scottish gin crown. The juniper and sugar kelp rush to the fore, closely followed by sweet citrus. It’s absolutely divine. And for my money, there’s not a gin out there I’ve tried which can surpass it. Today the islands are fascinating places to visit, with breathtaking scenery, diverse wildlife, and plenty of remnants to their great history. Standard delivery 1 weekWorldwide DeliveryNo minimum order. While I’ve my own views on this, that’s for another article. However, the gin’s success has surpassed all expectations, which in turn has contributed to a higher number of employees than initially targeted. Top up with Walter Gregor’s tonic to taste (but not too much! In November 2018 they also took on a school leaver as an apprentice distiller. The magical Outer Hebrides…. "Great memories we're made, wonderful people were met, delicious food and whiskey was consumed, and a heartfelt thank you was offered to Susan, who made a great day, utterly fantastic!" For me it ticks every box – both as a gin fanatic and by meeting the aims Bakewell set out to achieve. Not just from the distillery itself, but through tourism to the island. If there’s a more stunning design, both conceptually and aesthetically, I’ve yet to see it. There is no critics reviews yet for this vintage. They’ve done things better. © 2021 Wine-Searcher™ All rights reserved. There’s a sweetness here from the liquorice before the cassia bark and cubeb provide a peppery finish. The first single malt whisky from a distillery in the Outer Hebrides since 1829. [See more]. We have reviews of the best places to see in Outer Hebrides. Food and Drink The Outer Hebrides have some of the very best seafood, smokehouses, distilleries and crofting produce. As 4th generation crafters and retailers, we’re proud to present the finest products our island communities have to offer – made by skilful, caring, local hands which we … Learn all about Isle of Harris Gin: how it is made by our local distillers, the nine botanicals that make our gin Award-Winning and about our much-loved Isle of Harris Gin bottle. Where once Hendrick’s was the pioneer, Harris Gin has taken up the mantle. The US-born musicologist has had a love affair of the Hebridean island since the 1960s. Rub a generous wedge of red grapefruit around the glass, then place inside, 4. This is what we spent on accommodation for the Outer Hebrides road trip, each. Users have rated this product 5 out of 5 stars. This is distilling on the edge Isle of Harris Distillers Ltd. Wine and Spirits Tarbert, Isle of Harris 563 followers The Social Distillery' - Distilling beautiful spirits in the heart of the Outer Hebrides. By controlling the supply chain in this way, it helps to maximise profit margins, while adding that extra sparkle of magic for the customer. Gin is a clear, high-alcohol drink whose flavor is created by distilling neutral grain spirit with a combination of plant extracts (botanicals), most famously juniper berries (see also Genever). By then, in the handful of days following the Grand Opening ceilidh, the first batch of gin – all 1004 bottles – had already sold out. There are no reports for non-vintage products. And we’ve no doubt it does! Outer Hebrides Accommodation. Just look for the ‘free cancellation’ message during your hotel search.Prices can vary, but right now we believe that flexibility matters. Movers, bakers & shakers - The Outer Hebrides Olive | July 2020 Travel editor Rhiannon Batten meets a Swedish ex-pat baking cinnamon rolls to order, a hotelier who hand-dives for scallops and a chocolatier making ganaches with local gin on a road trip through this Atlantic island chain RHIANNON BATTEN Isle of Harris Gin Outer Hebrides, Scotland. In ‘A New Chapter in Scottish Gin’, we meet Scotland’s gin brands who have recently opened their own distillery or are in the process of moving so we can learn more about what it means to them and their business. Read my review to find out all you need to know about “The Social Distillery”. Isle of Harris Gin is only available to buy directly from the distillery, or via their website for postage or click and collect. This is what we spent on food for the Outer Hebrides road trip, each. Harris (Scottish Gaelic: Na Hearadh, pronounced [nə ˈhɛɾəɣ] ()) is the southern and more mountainous part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland.Although not an island itself, Harris is often referred to as the Isle of Harris, which is the former postal county and the current post town for Royal Mail postcodes starting HS3 or HS5; see HS postcode area. However, the Western Isles are more than Harris Gin, the home of the Gaelic language, the famous Callanish standing stones, … Standing out in the Atlantic on the far western edge of Scotland, you’ll find our home, our distillery. To garnish, they recommend red grapefruit, while my personal preference is a wedge of orange. Isle of Harris Gin costs £37. On the bottom of the bottle there’s a hidden message in Latin – “Esse Quam Videri”, which means “to be, rather than to seem”. It can be consumed neat, but is most commonly used as an ingredient in mixed drinks and cocktails. Midway up the Outer Hebrides – the 130-mile chain of islands off the north-west coast of Scotland that are strung together by single-track road and ferry – the low-lying Atlantic outcrop is hit as harshly by wind and rain as its neighbouring isles. You’ll have to drive slowly anyway, so why not stop the car at one of the many sea lochs to take a … There’s no doubt you’re drinking something special and it’s exactly the sort of flavour profile I love. After many years without any (legal) distilleries, the distilling scene on the Outer Hebrides has burst into life. Hebridean Pink Gin is our second gin expression and is also distilled and bottled on the Isle of Tiree. We hope that this is the beginning of a journey to revive the spirit industry on an island with a rich heritage in the tradition. "Laphroaig is right on the water and has the best visitor centre - a wonderful historical centre, a lounge with leather chairs to sample a dram and a really good shop - streets above the other distilleries" PREMIUM DOWNPOUR CRAFT GIN FROM NORTH UIST DISTILLERY Co. Citrus, spice and a punch of wild Hebridean heather. The standard has been set. Most Outer Hebrides hotels offer free cancellation. Outer Hebrides food. It’s over to the rest to rise to the challenge. Things to Do in Outer Hebrides, Scotland: See Tripadvisor's 53,598 traveler reviews and photos of Outer Hebrides tourist attractions. Our community has a strong history of traditional … Harris Distillers recommend Walter Gregor’s Tonic Water, which goes really nicely with the gin. These artisan, independent producers showcase the best that our Atlantic larder has to offer. Soon visitors will have the choice of three malt whiskies, the traditional tipple on the islands, and three boutique gins, the newcomer spirit. YOUR ORDER CONTAINS Isle of Harris Gin is everything I hoped it to be. As with many distilleries, producing gin is the perfect way to keep cashflow going until the whisky has matured. Visitor numbers to the distillery hit 92,000 in 2018, an increase of over 10% on 2017. This is a distillery for the entire community. It’s the spirit on the inside that will have people coming back time and again for more. The Outer Hebrides are more beautiful than you can imagine, with a rare, tranquil, rugged sort of beauty that you don’t find very often. Bakewell’s affection for Harris led him to found the Distillery, with the help of 17 private investors, to bolster the island’s economy. The sugar kelp makes itself known with a sweet saltiness. It’s lighter on the fizz than many brands, so if you like something a bit more bubbly, I’d recommend Fever-Tree Mediterranean. Discover the best way to serve our gin and but it online today. The Hebrides by MacGillivray is what happens when you love your home so much you want to share the very best pieces of it with everyone who isn’t lucky enough to live there. Working with specialist spirits branding agency Stranger & Stranger, they’ve come up with something which really encapsulates the stunningly rugged landscape of Harris. We have gone […] To taste neat, citrus notes are the first to appear before fading to bring juniper from the background. 01870 602525. hello@hebridesgifts.com When tonic is added… there’s not much I can say other than “wow!” A G&T really takes Harris Gin to a whole new level. An Island Crafted Collection from The heart of the Hebrides. Now, over 2 years into the journey, Isle of Harris Distillers employ over 30 islanders, or “Hearach” to give the Gaelic term for a Harris native. With an island population of less than 1,916, this alone is quite a sizeable boost to the economy. Abhainn Dearg Distillery (pronounced Aveen Jarræk), or Red River in English, is a craft distillery located in Uig on the Outer Hebridean Isle of Lewis. Not a bad first job if you ask me! Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. Isle of Harris Gin 70cl (ABV 45% Alcohol) – Premium Small-Batch Gin from the Outer Hebrides | Infused with Hand-Harvested Sugar Kelp Seaweed and Botanicals 4.9 out of 5 stars 128 £45.00 There’s nothing too overpowering and certainly enjoyable as a sipping gin, which is Harris Distillers’ preferred way of drinking it. Steeped in Hebridean history, but always forward thinking, North Uist Distillery Co. produces some of the finest artisan spirits in Scotland from the beautiful Island of North Uist, including our signature Downpour Gin. An island crafted collection from the heart of the Hebrides. Every drop is distilled and bottled in Harris, and shipped directly to you. We are Scotland’s most westerly distillery. Wine-Searcher's historical data and benchmark analysis provides trustworthy and valuable insights into likely market trends. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress. The outer Hebrides is an amazing location and should really be on your list of places to explore. Our special Scottish Gin is bursting with botanicals, drenching you in big bold flavours you can taste in every drop. Speaking to the Herald in 2017, managing director Simon Erlanger stated that Bakewell  “Had this idea, if you could somehow bottle the essence of Harris and send it out to the world, you could encourage people to come on holiday here.” (If you haven’t seen any pictures of Harris, a quick Google search will have you sold!). These figures alone highlight just what Harris Distillers are doing for the island. And what adds that extra level of magic which elevates a good gin to a great one. I admit I never noticed this and credit to the amazing Gin Cooperative for pointing out this little nugget! The beauty of the island is enclosed in the bottle and is now sent out to every corner of the globe. The key ingredient of Isle of Harris Gin is sugar kelp, which is obtained by a local diver, foraging beneath the waters of the Outer Hebrides. To further reinforce the island connection, the distillery’s coordinates are printed on the tape across the bottle stopper. It’s from Scottish Gaelic that they’ve named their forthcoming whisky, The Hearach. From the remote Outer Hebrides comes a unique spirit – Isle of Harris Gin, the first product from Isle of Harris Distillers. Now onto the bottle! ‘It is fantastic to see an entrepreneurial young couple going into business and wish them the best success. To put that into perspective, the entire Outer Hebrides had around 220,000 visitors in 2017 according to VisitScotland. Join Facebook to connect with Lorna Miller and others you may know. With a network of ‘click and collect’ partners, every order of Isle of Harris gin is placed through their own website or in person at the distillery. What botanicals are used in Isle of Harris Gin? Many of the smaller islands in the Outer Hebrides are uninhabited, and most of the population lives on Lewis and Harris. Mairi Thomson from Outer Hebrides Tourism said: ‘We are absolutely delighted so see the launch of the brand new and aptly named Downpour gin from the new North Uist Distillery. The island of Barra sits on the west coast of Scotland and forms part of a chain of islands called the Outer Hebrides. They have been occupied by peoples since the Mesolithic and have seen the influence of Celtic, Norse, and English-speaking cultures. There’s no doubt the bottle has added to the vociferous demand Harris Distillers have experienced for their gin. For the purposes of the review, I’ll stick to what I feel are some of the key points to note. Outer Hebrides, HS7 5LA. Local delivery in 48hFree shipping in Italy over 29€.Standard delivery 1 week, Standard delivery 1 weekWorldwide DeliveryNo minimum order. Superb, fresh tasting gin £37.00 + £6.00 delivery.22/12/19. Each label is unique too – individually flecked with fragments of copper leaf and sugar kelp, further capturing the Hebridean landscape. 70cl | Alcohol 46% Vol DELIVERY ON US Our gift to you, free delivery within the UK. Find and price wines, beers and spirits across online stores, Popularity relative to other wines, spirits and beers. Pride. As you nose the gin, it’s juniper-forward, fresh and sweet. The Outer Hebrides Islands of Scotland have had a fascinating history. Citrus notes of the bitter orange and coriander aren’t far away, while always in the background is the sugar kelp, adding a rich maritime scent, really helping to transport you to the Hebridean isle. Scotland is a part of the United Kingdom known for whisky rather than wine; the climate is too cold and wet to allow grapes to ripen sufficiently for the production of wine. But the maritime quality of the gin isn’t all that makes the two-year-old distillery unique: it also aims to bring economic revival to an island that is swiftly losing its young people. Read my review to find out all you need to know about “The Social Distillery”. As the citrus fades away there’s a gently warming spice and herbaceous finish. The Hearach is expected to be ready for bottling in 2020, but given the high benchmark set with their gin, the board of Harris Distillers is clear it will not be rushed. Search results prioritize 3 sponsor listings. Isle of Harris Gin. Just when you’ve seen the most stunning beach on the islands, you turn a corner and there’s another one. The Isle of Harris Distillery in Tarbert has won rave reviews for its gin, which is a frequent award-winner, and has been voted Scotland's favourite gin. It’s very much a traditional gin to the nose, but with a contemporary twist. Wavecrest Camping x 1 = £10 ; Airbnb house x 2 = £50; Harris Hotel x 1 = £60; Jury’s Inn, Glasgow x 1 = £22 = £142 each. Add a few drops of Sugar Kelp Aromatic Water, 5. Such is this ethos, I could write about it for a full article itself. While almost certainly the case, it’s probably more a symptom of the core values and ethos instilled from the outset. The Outer Hebrides, or Western Isles, make up Scotland’s most westerly reaches, moored in the wind-whipped North Atlantic. From interviews to press releases, web copy to social posts, it visibly embodies the entire organisation. What defines a Scottish gin? You sense it in every single word from Isle of Harris Distillers. One of their core values is ‘for, with and from the Isle of Harris’. From the remote Outer Hebrides comes a unique spirit – Isle of Harris Gin, the first product from Isle of Harris Distillers. The Isle of Harris Gin bottle for this review was purchased by From the Gin Shelf. It certainly whets the appetite. Overall, it’s a really well-balanced, refreshing and smooth gin. This includes school leavers and distillers who had no previous experience, all trained up to a level capable of making their spirits. As well as their local employees, they also use local ingredients as one of their key botanicals – sugar kelp. Now onto the bottle! Where can I buy Isle of Harris Gin? However, that’s only going to get you so far. Opening the cork gives a satisfying deep, echoey pop. Distilled and bottled on the remote Scottish Island of Barra, our gin has a piece of our home in each bottle. Check with the merchant for stock availability. At the moment, travelling in the Outer Hebrides is a bit different than normal. Gin is a clear, high-alcohol drink whose flavor is created by distilling neutral grain spirit with a combination of plant extracts (botanicals), most f ... Stores and prices for 'Isle of Harris Gin, Outer Hebrides' | prices, stores, tasting notes and market data. The Isle of Harris Distillers, located on the shores of Tarbert harbour on the Isle of Harris, officially opened their doors at the beginning of the October. Brands such as Eden Mill have been particularly vocal about “Scottishness”, while the Scottish Gin Society have been doing their bit to increase transparency about where a gin is made with their A-Z of Scottish Gins. Behind the gin: Ian Stirling, The Port of Leith Distillery, 220,000 visitors in 2017 according to VisitScotland. We named it our favourite against some tough opposition, and while there’s been some lovely new packaging on the market nothing has surpassed this thing of beauty. . If there’s a more stunning design, both conceptually and aesthetically, I’ve yet to see it. Take a Gin Rickey – gin, lime and soda - out to the spacious terrace before the sun goes down for views of the lake to your left and the city’s skyline to the south. The Outer Hebrides are one of the best places in Europe to see the European Otter, and in the southern portion of the islands they’re so common that there are road signs warning of their presence. They’ve done things differently. Upgrade to PRO to view all 117 results for the location you've chosen. Either way, it’s a simply stunning gin. Isle of Harris Gin contains nine botanicals. How much does Isle of Harris Gin cost? Provenance is also central to Harris Distillers. ), Where once Hendrick’s was the pioneer, Harris Gin has taken up the mantle. Distilled using seven botanicals including juniper, raspberries and sweet peels. These are: juniper, coriander seeds, cassia bark, angelica root, bitter orange, cubeb, liquorice root, orris root and sugar kelp. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in March. Nicknamed “The Social Distillery”, the distillery was the brainchild of Anderson Bakewell. This is ethically harvested from around the island by local diver Lewis Mackenzie. A visit to the Outer Hebrides is an otherworldly dip into Scotland’s remote edge of the world island culture. Many believe a true Scottish gin needs to be distilled in the country, as opposed to an increasing trend of getting a recipe and contract distilling down south, for example. You can be sure that your bottle of Harris Gin was created in Tarbet at 57° 53’ N 6° 48’ W. juniper, coriander seeds, cassia bark, angelica root, bitter orange, cubeb, liquorice root, orris root, sugar kelp, 2. Despite the incredible success of their gin, Harris Distillers describe themselves as “first and foremost a whisky distillery”. Consider booking refundable hotels rather than non-refundable ones. Lorna Miller is on Facebook. Additional costs may be charged for delivery or click and collect. Bitter citrus lingers on the taste buds, should you be able to wait long enough before having another sip from your glass! The sweetness is accentuated compared to when tasted neat, while there’s a floral fruitiness in the background. There’s been a huge debate about gin’s provenance, particularly in Scotland. The largest island of the Outer Hebrides is Lewis and Harris, and the other large islands are North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist, and Barra.Several smaller islands surround the main islands, and about 40 miles (65 km) northwest of the main chain is the St. Kilda island group. Harris Distillers’ strict ‘buy direct’ model is also quite unique. Perhaps that’s because those behind the brand message love their job and know they’ve got a great product. There are fingerprints on the sides of the bottle too as if the bottle was washed up on the beach. With a focus on boosting the local economy, Isle of Harris Distillers home-trained five islanders to expertly produce their spirits.