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MY love affair with the Isle of Harris began when I was just 16 at Kilgraston School in Perth. I remember shopping in the country stores at the weekend and falling in love with Harris tweed.
I didn’t know anyone from the island, but I knew I had to visit the place that produced this most glorious fabric. I saved up and bought a Harris tweed bag which always reminded me of my dream.
As soon as I launched my business, Harris had to be my first location for WeeBox. Visiting in 2017 to curate it couldn’t have been more perfect.
With our dear friend and expert tour guide Donald McInnes (who we affectionately called the Mayor of Harris as he knew everyone!) we spent days on his croft, explored the breathtaking beaches and visited the newly opened Isle of Harris Distillery. Harris Gin in that iconic bottle quickly became my new favourite toot!
Fast forward to today and they are our great friends. We have featured the Distillery in two best-selling Harris WeeBoxes, celebrated Burns Night together at the star studded LA Burns Bash organised by Ross King (where Michael Douglas confessed his love of Harris Gin!) and then took part in the Tartan Week in New York.
I was honoured their brand ambassadors Iona and Eilidh joined me and our subscribers in the closing parade, marching down 6th Avenue proudly wearing purple WeeBox tartan. What a whirlwind week that was – with Harris Gin contributing some island spirit!
Bringing Scotland closer and sharing the country’s stories is at the heart of all we do for our WeeBox Clan subscribers. And what a story the Isle of Harris Distillery has to tell – they even their own ‘Storytelling Department.’
Known as The Social Distillery, they offer a warm welcome to all in the heart of Harris. They are open six days a week with regular tours, a public canteen offering fresh local produce and a shop full of local products – as well as their own Isle of Harris Gin.
This month saw the long awaited launch of their very first whisky, The Hearach. Lovers of the island and the Distillery had travelled from all over thr world for the historic moment.
Iona said: “We are delighted to be launching the first single malt whisky from the Isle of Harris – it is a very proud moment for everyone at the distillery as well as the wider island community as we introduce the world to ‘The Hearach’.
“We had guests travelling far and wide to celebrate the launch with us and we were thrilled when WeeBox offered to make a special box to welcome them to the Isle of Harris, full of wonderful products from the Outer Hebrides.
“I have been very fortunate to work with the fantastic team at WeeBox both at home and in the USA and their attention to detail and love and care that goes into each box never fails.
“We are absolutely delighted that they are joining us in celebrating this momentous moment for the Isle of Harris Distillery.”
The Hearach is everything you would imagine it to be: delicious, in a stunning bottle you will want to keep and with every sip you’ll get a true sense of the island.
A huge thank you to our WeeBox makers who were hand selected to feature in the Harris Welcome WeeBox: Jamie of Essence of Harris Candles, Coinneach The Hebridean Baker and his Heather Honey Shortbread, Erica of Eteaket Harris Gin tea, Margaret Anne of The Herring Girls and Eilidh the Hebridean artist behind Ejay Designs who create gold watercolour maps. All wrapped in The Stornaway Gazette.
This launch weekend has been filled with celebrations on Harris, live music and drams to keep the island spirits flowing. The party is still in full swing, so why don’t you get your own taste of island life and be one of the first to impress your friends and family with this soon to be iconic dram?
Here’s to The Hearach!
Go online at www.harrisdistillery.com
If you are a Scottish maker and keen to expand your international market please get in touch hello@weebox.co.uk I’d love to hear your story.
WeeBox is the perfect gift for loved ones abroad. Gift today using code WeeBoxGift20 at weebox.co.uk/gifting for 20% off
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