Shona Macleod’s heart beats strong and true for the Isle of Harris. It’s the largest island in the Outer Hebrides. There’s a rich history to discover in this picturesque place. Shona is a proud native of Tarbert, which is the main port and settlement on the island.
When talks began to build a distillery on the island, Shona knew that it was her destiny to be involved in any way she could. What she didn’t know is just how much she would discover about her own ability, which would then lead to an ardent love of whisky. As the Master Distiller for the Isle of Harris Distillery, she has made it her mission to capture the spirit of the island. With much anticipation and hard work, The Hearach burst forth into the glasses of enthusiasts in many parts of the world.
The Isle of Harris Distillery is known as the Social Distillery. As they say, “A Warm Welcome Awaits,” and they are proud to share everything they can with you about the island, its people, and their love of their whisky. It’s thoughtfully crafted by a small team of people who fill the bottle with love and care. If you’re going to put something in your glass, why not entertain something of character and craftsmanship?
The Hearach Whisky is well-worth the investment and time to develop a love for. Its charm goes well beyond the delicious liquid in the unique bottle: it carries the spirit of the entire island with it.
Enjoy this unique opportunity to meet Shona and get a glimpse into her story. We celebrate this amazing woman in whiskey!
Why did you choose the spirits industry?
The answer is that the spirits industry chose me. Let me explain.
I’m from the Isle of Harris, but I left to study in Glasgow like many other people did. From there, I began working in the restaurant business and stayed for 14 years. My husband is also from the Isle, and we decided that it was time to return. He had a piece of land, so we built a house and started a family. It was a lifestyle move, and not a career move.
My family owns a hotel in Tarbert, which is a village on the island. Since my background in hospitality, I knew I could work there. About a year later, there was talk of a distillery being built and I immediately knew that I wanted to be involved in any way that I could. It was my hope to make a difference and bring young people back to the island for a great career opportunity. Again, with my background I anticipated being involved in any way I could, but wasn’t even considering spirit quality or production.
It’s been a wonderful journey of discovery.
What was your first job in the industry?
When I studied hospitality, we learned a lot about spirits and wine production. My work experience includes a lot of selling spirits, but the job with Isle of Harris Distillery is my first experience directly in the spirits industry. Since the distillery is brand new, this is true for many of the people who work for us as well.
The first few of us who came aboard are known as “The Tarbert Ten,” and we were all given sensory tests. About half of us made the cut and I was in that group. That put me on the road to discovering more about my ability, as I’d never used my nose in a professional capacity before. Here we are now, and it’s been an amazing experience so far.
Suddenly, there was a new world in front of me. I hadn’t considered how powerful it is when you cook food and enjoy spirits. It changed my outlook quite a lot, as I am now obsessed with exploring it further. I’m glad I threw my hat in the ring for this one.
Who has influenced you in your career?
Without a doubt, it is the amazing young people we have working for us. We have one of the youngest staffs, in terms of average age, in the whiskey industry. They inspire me every day with their enthusiasm for what we do.
What is your favorite part of your current role?
Sharing the love of what I do with other people. If people come to visit the distillery, I’ll spend the day with them and show everything inside and out. There are about 54 jobs at the distillery and many of them are not customer-facing, so it’s important for me to able to share the adoration we all have for what we do.
I absolutely love sharing the story and showing our little distillery on the Isle of Harris. They made a journey way off the beaten path to come and see us, and we appreciate it.
What is your current favorite pour?
That would be The Hearach Oloroso Cask Matured. It’s our newest product and I’m so proud of it. It’s delicious and I am looking forward to sharing it with the whisky world.
