Harris distillery is a Scotch whisky and Gin distillery in Tarbert on the Isle of Harris, Scotland.^[1] The distillery was the first legal distillery ever built on Harris.^[1][2][3]

Plans for the distillery began in 2011 with submission to the local council Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.^[4] With the support of a £2.8 million combined grant from the Scottish Government and the Highlands and Islands Enterprise fund, building commenced in spring 2014.^[1] The total investment for the original project was £10 million, with the remaining funding coming from private sources.^[5][6] The distillery opened in October 2015 and commenced production on 17 December 2015.^[1][7]

In 2016, BBC Alba produced a TV documentary about the first working year of the distillery.^[8] By 2017, the distillery had welcomed over 144,000 visitors, including Charles, Prince of Wales, as well as receiving 17 awards for their products.^[3][9][10]

In 2020, the distillery began sponsoring a virtual Cèilidh.^[11] In January 2021, the distillery submitted plans to the Council for expansion, including a new maturation warehouse.^[12]

In July 2021, the distillery launched an eco-friendly initiative to refill bottles.^[13][14]

In autumn 2023, the distillery released its first single malt whisky.^[15]

The distillery stills were made in Siena, Italy by Frilli Impianti.^[1] There is a visitor centre.^[3]

As well as a single malt whisky called The Hearach, the Gaelic word for a resident of Harris, the distillery makes a gin using botanicals including local sugar kelp seaweed.^[1][16][17] As of 2017, over two tonnes of seaweed had been collected for the gin production.^[3] Other botanicals in the gin include Juniper, Coriander, Angelica Root and Cassia Bark.^[7] The gin is sold in a distinctive blue bottle^[14] which won a Gold Award at the World Gin Awards in 2021.^[7][18] The gin bottles are manufactured in Yorkshire by the Stolzle Glass Group.^[9]

57.8976°N 6.8040°W / 57.8976; -6.8040