Isle of Harris Gin
Isle of Harris Distillers · Isle of Harris Distillery, Tarbert, Isle of Harris
Isle of Harris Gin is what happens when a community decides to bottle its home. The sugar kelp is not a novelty — it fundamentally changes the gin's texture and flavor profile, adding a savory richness and maritime minerality that no juniper-and-citrus combination can achieve alone. At 45% ABV, it has the strength to stand up in cocktails, but it's best sipped with just a splash of tonic to let the kelp and juniper shine. This is a gin that tastes like a place — wild, remote, and utterly distinctive. It's also a beautiful story: a distillery built to keep a community alive, making something no one else in the world can make. Cocktail — "The Harris G&T": Pour 2 oz Isle of Harris Gin over ice in a copa glass. Add 4 oz premium tonic water (Fever-Tree Mediterranean works beautifully). Garnish with a twist of grapefruit peel and a small piece of sugar kelp or a sprig of fresh rosemary. The maritime character of the gin deserves a garnish that echoes the sea.
Nose
Pine-forward juniper meets a distinctive maritime quality — not fishy, but a clean, mineral brine that signals the sugar kelp. Bitter orange peel, cassia warmth, and a floral sweetness from the orris root weave through the background.
Palate
Rich and almost voluptuous in texture — the sugar kelp gives an unusual body that sets it apart from drier gins. Juniper and citrus lead, but the mid-palate reveals a savory, umami-like depth. Coriander spice and liquorice provide a warm foundation.
Finish
Long and warming for a gin, with lingering juniper, a whisper of sea salt, and an orris-root powderiness that fades into clean maritime air. Gin
- Botanicals
- Juniper, sugar kelp (hand-harvested), coriander seeds, cubebs, cassia bark, angelica root, bitter orange peel, orris root, liquorice root
- Base Spirit
- Grain neutral spirit
- Distillation
- Single-shot distillation in a small copper pot still ('The Dottach')
Cocktail Suggestion
Cocktail — "The Harris G&T": Pour 2 oz Isle of Harris Gin over ice in a copa glass. Add 4 oz premium tonic water (Fever-Tree Mediterranean works beautifully). Garnish with a twist of grapefruit peel and a small piece of sugar kelp or a sprig of fresh rosemary. The maritime character of the gin deserves a garnish that echoes the sea.
Food Pairing
Seared scallops with brown butter and capers. The gin's sugar kelp and maritime notes harmonize with the sweet brine of the scallops, while the cassia bark warmth complements the nutty brown butter.
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