As 2024 draws to a close, the Isle of Harris Distillery is reflecting on a year of remarkable achievements for this Outer Hebridean purpose-driven enterprise. Approaching a decade since its founding, the past twelve months have been defined by creative collaborations, inspiring new releases, and a steadfast dedication to the community of the Isle of Harris, with The Hearach Single Malt and Isle of Harris gin now available in 25 countries worldwide.
The Hearach, the distillery’s inaugural single malt whisky, has continued to capture the hearts of whisky enthusiasts. The whisky has received recognition for its exceptional quality, receiving top honours such as Best Islands Single Malt at the International Whisky Competition, gold awards at both the Berlin and London Spirits Competitions, and a silver award at the San Francisco Spirits Awards 2024.
These accolades reflect not only the quality of the whisky itself but also the dedication of the distillery’s local team to their craft. The business itself recently received a remarkable recognition as Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2024.
Throughout 2024, the distillery has continued to explore new ideas and releases, including a bold new edition to the permanent range with the Hearach Oloroso Cask Matured. Isle of Harris Distillery also added a second edition of its striking ceramic gin cèilidh bottle to the product lineup, in addition to several distillery-exclusive single cask bottlings.
This year also marked an important milestone for the distillery’s Managing Director, Simon Erlanger, who this autumn was enrolled as a Master of the Quaich, a rare honour awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to the Scotch whisky industry.
Partnerships have been at the heart of the distillery’s work in 2024. A collaboration with Selfridges for an exclusive single cask whisky sold out online within 2 hours, introducing Harris whisky to the retailer’s discerning customers across the UK. Similarly, local partnerships, such as the exclusive bottling with Stornoway’s Island Spirits shop, offered islanders a chance to engage with their own whisky heritage. Events like the Hebridean Whisky Festival and the Hebridean Celtic Festival created opportunities for locals and visitors to celebrate the shared culture and stories that underpin the distillery’s mission.
Reflecting on the year, Managing Director Simon Erlanger shared: “2024 has been a landmark year for our team. We are immensely proud of the recognition our work has received, but even more so of the role we continue to play in supporting our community and sharing the spirit of Harris with the world. These achievements are a testament to the passion, creativity, and resilience of our team.
“As we look ahead to 2025, we are inspired by another year of exciting collaborations and new releases, as we approach a decade since the company began with just the ‘Tarbert 10’ – now with over 40 Hearaich working towards the same mission, the team can look back with pride on their incredible achievements.”
Founded to address the economic challenges of the Outer Hebrides, the Isle of Harris Distillery continues to embody a vision of creating a sustainable future for the island and its people. Through world-class spirits, local employment, and global collaborations, the distillery remains committed to its mission of making a lasting, positive impact on Harris and beyond.
