Isle of Harris adds to Hearach range

Scottish spirits producer the Isle of Harris Distillery has unveiled the second permanent expression in The Hearach single malt whisky range.

The Hearach Oloroso Cask Matured was aged in first-fill oloroso Sherry butts, which are said to offer the liquid a bold and deeply aromatic character. This second expression was crafted by the same team of locals behind the distillery’s inaugural single malt – named after the Scottish Gaelic word that refers to a native of the Hebridean Isle of Harris. The casks chosen for maturation were hand-picked for quality from the Bodega José y Miguel Martín in the Andalusia region in southern Spain. The distillery notes that with the release of the oloroso expression, its ethos of ‘people and place woven together’ has expanded to encompass the Spanish Sherry winemakers and coopers that crafted the Sherry and casks that have provided flavour to the final spirit. Simon Erlanger, managing director at Isle of Harris Distillery, commented: “After years of careful development, it’s finally time to share the next expression of The Hearach with the world – marking another milestone just one year after the outstanding success of The Hearach’s inaugural launch. “The Hearach Oloroso Cask Matured has allowed us to build a strong connection between The Isle of Harris Distillery and the family Sherry makers José y Miguel Martín of Andalusia. It has been an incredible experience working with a team with a similar dedication to craft and discovering the similarities between our cultures and communities.” Bottled at 46% ABV, the non-chill-filtered whisky is lightly peated at 12-15ppm (parts per million). Harrison Wood, blender at the Isle of Harris Distillery, said the release offered “initial winter aromas of cinnamon, orange peel, and cloves which remind me of Christmas at home. There are green notes of herbs and the nostalgic creaminess of white chocolate from childhood days.” Notes of walnut and fireside wood smoke can also be detected. He added: “The dram develops with a hint of thyme from my kitchen, closely followed by dried oranges. Spices then come through, like vanilla pods and a subtle sense of cloves, before a long leather and liquorice finish." The Hearach Oloroso Cask Matured is available from today (24 September), with bottles for sale online, at the distillery, and through speciality whisky sellers in the UK at an RRP of £75 (US$100).