A Remarkable Barley Season

Unique Barley Season = Unique Spirit Ahead

Our 2025 growing season began in The Long Field on 17 February, with ploughing completed across all fields by 21 April. By the end of April, all 140 acres had been ploughed and sown, marking a strong start to the year.

In previous seasons, we’ve planted more than one variety of barley. But this year, we returned exclusively to Laureate, a variety that served us well in 2017 and 2018.

Weather Challenges Shape the Crop

As the crop began to establish, nature, as always, had its say.

· A dry spring helped with early growth

· A wet June followed

· Then another prolonged dry spell and a persistent easterly wind

Unfortunately, the July–August dryness caused the barley to ripen without the moisture needed to increase grain size. This accelerated maturity meant an early harvest, starting 18 August, around two weeks ahead of normal. The timing proved fortunate, as heavy late-August rains paused combining across the island for nearly a month.

The Final Tally

Despite lower yields, the harvest brought its own success story:

· 214 tonnes of Laureate barley harvested

· Enough to produce approximately 65,000 LOA (or 520 barrels)

· Average yield of 1.5 tonnes per acre, compared with 2 tonnes per acre in 2024

The reduced yield was largely due to smaller grain size, one of the more visible impacts of the season’s unpredictable weather.

Barley with a Story to Tell

2025 will be remembered as a challenging yet distinctive barley-growing year — one that promises to influence the character of the spirit it becomes. Malting and distilling of this harvest will begin in early 2026, and we expect the resulting flavour profile to be every bit as unique as the season itself.

We know many will be watching eagerly — and waiting impatiently — to enjoy the story this barley will tell in the glass.

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