I could not help but notice the gorgeous blue glass bottle perched behind the bar. It immediately captured my attention and loving all things gin, I dove right into trying it. The bottle itself is stunning (great for displaying twinkle lights), but the gin was not like anything I had ever tasted before. I absolutely loved it!
Seeing as I was in Scotland at the time, I decided to pick up a few bottles to bring back. However, as it turned out, easier said than done, as Harris Gin does not distribute through any retail stores in the UK. I wandered the Royal Mile of Edinburgh scouring every spirits shop only to find one forbidden coveted bottle on a corner shelf.
What makes Harris Gin so special?
It’s not the exclusivity of the Harris Gin that is special, it’s more about the Isle of Harris itself and its people. This is a gin with a sense of place. The Isle of Harris Distillery is first and foremost about creating a tangible future for local inhabitants and generations to come. Everything from the bottle design to the flavour profile is born from this community’s close connection to the sea.
Harris Gin is crafted using sugar kelp as a key botanical along with 7 other botanicals such as bitter orange, juniper, coriander seed and local herbs. It’s the sugar kelp seaweed though, hand gathered by local diver, Lewis Mackenzie, that contributes such a unique flavour to this gin, giving a hint of sweet and seacoast salinity.
Vancouver Island’s own Leon Webb (Distiller at Shelter Point) spent a few years during his distilling internship at Harris Gin. How wonderful to know some of our local talent played a role in helping to craft this gin’s style!
Take a sip, close your eyes and taste the ocean. It really is the marriage between the packaging, the taste and their story which makes Harris Gin the unique product it is.
JAK’s is the first to receive this gin in the province, and though we had initially scheduled a launch with a West Coast splash, on account of social distancing measures we are bringing the launch to you. We have enlisted the expertise of local bar celebrity Jay Jones, now Bar Development Leader of the JOEY Restaurant Group, to craft some unique cocktails showcasing Harris Gin.
For those wanting to imbibe a delicious liquid treat they can concoct at home, try Jay’s Isolation of Harris cocktail found below:
Isolation of Harris
1.5 oz of Harris Gin
.5 oz of St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur
.5 oz of Giffard Abricot de Roussillon
1 oz of fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
Combine all ingredients and shake with ice. Strain into a cocktail glass of your choosing. Sip and enjoy the moment.
JAK’S Beer, Wine & Spirits is collaborating with Jay Jones and Drinkwell Imports to donate $10.00 for every bottle of Harris Gin sold to be contributed to the BC Hospitality Foundation to help show support of the industry during these tough times.
We’d like to personally thank Mark and Blair Robertson of Drinkwell Imports and Jay Jones for all their hard work and generosity in making this happen.
Stay safe, stay well and remember indulging in fun has not been cancelled!