Isle of Arran Distillers

The holding company created to build and operate Isle of Harris distillery.

Musicologist Anderson Bakewell incorporated Isle of Harris Distillers in 2007 with a view to building Harris’ first commercial distillery. Its purpose is to provide economic regeneration for the fragile local community. Former Glenmorangie sales and marketing director Simon Erlanger came on board as managing director designate in 2011, along with former Whyte & Mackay CFO Ron MacEachran to assist Bakewell in drumming up financial support from private investors. A breakthrough came in 2012 when the company was awarded a £1.9m public grant from the Scottish government’s Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation (FPMC) scheme. Soon after further public grants and private investment from around the world secured Isle of Harris with the capital it needed to build a distillery in the town of Tarbert. Isle of Harris distillery officially opened in September 2015. A few weeks later the distillery launched its first product, Harris Gin.