The Hearach is the first single malt to be released by the Isle of Harris Distillers Ltd. It is released in small batches with each batch showing a natural and subtle difference in colour, aroma and flavour. At the time of writing the latest release is Batch #16. The inaugural batch was bottled and released in September 2023. The first whisky was distilled in December 2015 and the decision was taken to make a lightly peated style of single malt. The name refers to a person from the Isle of Harris – Na Hearadh in Gaelic.
The Harris distillery was founded in 2015 by Anderson Bakewell. He joined forces with Simon Erlanger, a former Marketing Director of Glenmorangie, and the first spirit - the multi award-winning Harris gin - flowed from the stills in September that year. The distillery is located in the small town of Tarbert on the island of Harris in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. Despite its remote location, the distillery and visitor centre attract almost 70,000 visitors each year. The annual production capacity is 390,000 litres, although they are currently operating around the 200,000 litre mark.
The Hearach is always bottled at 46% ABV and each batch is non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It can be purchased in selected specialist whisky retailers in the UK and USA, from the distillery visitor centre in Tarbert and via www.harrisdistillery.com. A bottle will cost £65.
* Please note | our sample does not indicate which batch it is taken from.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is pale gold and the nose has an immediate freshness and vibrancy about it. Aromas of fresh green apple and peach lead the way but are quickly joined by further aromas of vanilla toffee and bonfire ash or embers. Some heather honey and a hint of gingerbread sit in the background.
On the palate this whisky is much more ashy and peppery than the nose suggests. The bonfire ember-like notes dominate the early part and add a charcoal dryness. The hit of white pepper gives heat with a hint of fiery green chilli also. As the smoke and heat soften, other characteristics are allowed to shine - a lovely sweetness leads the way with notes of vanilla fudge and butterscotch combining with some poached pear and fairground toffee apple. The savoury smoke is never far away and eventually balances well with the sweeter elements. Some golden syrup and heather honey notes come through nicely, as does a distinct maltiness and something reminiscent of hazelnut praline.
The finish is of decent length and the smokiness draws it out well. Once the sweet honeyed and fruity notes fade, the ashy peat really comes to the fore. This creates an earthy and woody dryness that comes with a mouthwatering peppery heat.
What's The Verdict?
This is a bright and lively whisky that shows plenty of promise. It is always interesting to sample the first release from a distillery and see what direction they are trying to go in. Some are better than other, naturally, but the Isle of Harris Distillers have done a great job here. The Hearach has plenty of character and it will also be interesting to see how the spirit, and particularly that peppery ashy peat smoke, develops with extra time in cask. But this is a lovely start.
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