Meet The Harris Makers: Our Young Distilling Team – Scotch Whisky News
Our whisky is made with little automation, and we prefer to rely on the ‘human touch’ throughout our spirit-making. This emphasis on people throughout the production process also serves to create employment that would otherwise be lost in a more ‘push-button’ operation.
Our commitment to developing career opportunities for young islanders now manifests in our Spirit Hall through one of the youngest distilling teams in Scotland.
With an average age of just 26 years, Rebekah, Thomas, Paddy, and Domhnall are now fully trained and qualified in the art and science of distilling spirits.
Under the mentorship of our Head Distiller Norman Ian, they use their judgement and experience to decide cut-points by nose and sight, manually adjusting the steam valves and making considered decisions as a team at every step.
The difference this makes to the final results may be hard to define but we believe their growing skills at the stills bring something extra to the spirits we finally bottle.
Read on to learn more about these young people who produce our whisky and gin, and if you’d like to enjoy the fruits of their labour then please consider buying a bottle or two from our online shop.
Le gach deagh dhùrachd,
Mike Donald, Chief Storyteller
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MEET REBEKAH MORRISON
22 YEARS OF AGE
Hailing from Bowglass here in the Isle of Harris, Rebekah went through her school years just a short walk from the Isle of Harris Distillery’s doors.
Rebekah began her career working in our distillery cafe at the age of 17. Soon after, a distilling apprenticeship became available and it proved a chance to embrace a whole new challenge.
After undertaking 2 years of training, Rebekah qualified with flying colours and now makes the historic single malt whisky, The Hearach.
Working close to home is something held close to Rebekah’s heart as she says, “The most important thing is the ability to live and work where I grew up…”
Rebekah was also our first woman distiller, something we are proud of, and we hope her success here inspires others to take on other such traditional male-dominated roles.
MEET THOMAS MACRAE
26 YEARS OF AGE
Originally hailing from the village of Balallan, Thomas now lives close to the distillery here in our home village of Tarbert.
Thomas always had the distillery project on his radar and took a keen interest in our progress from afar.
But, when a distilling job opportunity arose, Thomas took advantage of the on-the-job training that would be provided and decided to “give it a shot”, in his own words.
Having come from a background of fishing, the life of a distiller inevitably came with steep new learning curves but he’s risen to the occasion every time.
Thomas tells, ‘Every day is different as a distiller. It keeps me on my toes but as a strong team here at the Isle of Harris Distillery, we are all working together towards the same goal”.
Learning he’s both proud and privileged to have secured the role of a distiller with us, we’re delighted he can further his skills and learnings whilst staying close to his island friends and family.
PADDY SINCLAIR
29 YEARS OF AGE
Paddy was brought up in the village of Tong in the Isle of Lewis and his mother’s side of the family is from Huisinis here in Harris.
He moved to Glasgow to complete a BSc at Glasgow University and then undertook an MSc in Brewing and Distilling before the opportunity to return home and become a distiller with us presented a career path that couldn’t be passed up.
Paddy lists many pros to his job but he places his colleagues high up on his list. He adds that the chance to live and work in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, all while developing his love of whisky-making, is also a bonus.
Leaving city life to settle here in Harris, he’s now able to spend time with old school friends, play in the local shinty team and cherish the time he gets to spend with his Hearaich family, including his grandmother in Huisinis.
Paddy says, “I am also able to add to the population number here which is another great plus in my mind, even if it is only a small number…”
MEET DOMHNALL MACRAE
26 YEARS OLD
With both Scalpay and Leverburgh blood running through his veins, Dol proudly tells that his family come from the Isle of Harris.
Growing up in Fort William, visiting Harris was a regular holiday tradition for him, but in April 2022, Donald decided to make the move to the island for himself.
It wasn’t long before fellow distiller and shinty teammate, Paddy informed him of a distiller opportunity on his work team and the rest, as they say, is history.
Despite the cliché of a ‘family feel’ at the distillery, it couldn’t be more true for him as he often feels it’s more like a friend group than a work one having now settled in well and embraced his role as a Harris distiller.
Domhnall tells us, “I feel at home in Harris. There’s the social aspect, sports and playing as part of the shinty team, spending time with family and feeling at ease with my career and future ahead. The scenery still catches me out and I try my best not to take it for granted.”
