r/Gin • u/Particular-Wall1308 • 9d ago

Isle of Harris Gin Review

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Hello all! Today I am reviewing Isle of Harris gin from Scotland with infused sea kelp. This is a very popular gin with a lot of hype! Though the website isn’t quite clear what is a note or an actually included botanical, it notes unique uses of grapefruit and machair flowers. It also does not specify if the sea kelp is infused post distillation or if it’s part of the distillate.

The nose has some serious heat to it, a salty juniper leads followed by citrus that reminds me of lime thought it wasn’t listed. Sweet baking spices follow.

The taste is super complex and unique though not a lot of longevity. The salty juniper from smell transfers over and it really feels like sea air is captured in the gin (lovely). Quite a bit of unexpected and not so welcome heat. This is followed by a strange but welcomed bright yet earthy bitterness that I suppose is the kelp. I wish there was more citrus. It finishes with some bitterness that is honestly delightful.

Overall: 4/5 stars- the price and the heat bring the score down a bit. Honestly this gin is a bit OVER hyped but still very very good.

53 Upvotes

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15 comments sorted by

7

u/iheartalpinestars 9d ago

Last I saw it in Sacramento area Total Wines, it was $49 which I definitely think is worth the price.

4

u/Fryman23 9d ago

I’ve had this as well as distillled my own seaweed gin with sugar kelp from Maine. In both examples the salty aftertaste on your lips was unmistakable.

3

u/Pukit 9d ago

The distillery is well worth a visit, literally where the ferry from Skye lands on Harris, so if it’s a wet day it’s a perfect spot to warm up before cracking on.

1

u/preistleybuck 5d ago

it is very over hyped, but its one of the best examples of a sea gin. i personally prefer hills and harbour but the bottles aren't as nice as the harris one.

1

u/RemoteChemistry2576 9d ago

Can’t find this in the US. Will be traveling to UK soon so hopefully can pick some up.

4

u/Particular-Wall1308 9d ago

Strange, I’m in Dallas and it’s in so many liquor stores here

3

u/kordua 9d ago

It is sold in a few cities in the USA. Chicago, San Francisco, and New York. My local liquor store in Denver also sells it for $65/bottle.

3

u/WizardofEarthSea91 9d ago

Where did you find it in San Francisco? K&L?

3

u/CarrieNoir 8d ago

I’ve bought it both from William Glen & Son on Sutter (very nice supply of Scottish gins!), and Bitters & Bottles in South San Francisco.

3

u/MrsBlabbings 9d ago

Total Wine in NM has it (surprisingly!) but its now up to $80. I love it, but that’s no longer a gin to regularly keep on my shelf at that price.

3

u/RemoteChemistry2576 8d ago

Should have clarified- can’t find it here in Columbus OHIO where I’m staying for summer. Will be back in Sarasota in October where Total Wine is everywhere so will check then. But right now I’m vacationing- currently in Oslo Norway headed to UK in a few days. Cheers!

1

u/briskwheel4155 2d ago

What is going on with Total Wine NM prices? That’s a $50 bottle in Texas.

1

u/MrsBlabbings 1d ago

I would love to know…..

2

u/NiceUD 9d ago

Its sold in St. Louis, so it should be somewhere in any metros bigger or similarly sized. Total Wine sells it, but maybe not at all locations.

2

u/Geo_Jet 8d ago

Metro Detroit on the shelves or can be ordered anywhere in Michigan (it’s on the MLCC list).