The Islay Barley Barons

We jokingly call them the Barley Barons - which is actually a ridiculous name because these guys are nothing like the bloated grain merchants for whom the term was coined. These guys are beef and sheep farmers who have taken a real risk by planting malting barley for Bruichladdich in a very marginal environment. The barley takes up much of their most productive ground, leaving less to support their core business.
There are upsides of course - diversification is good, spreading the exposure to different markets mitigates risk, although for the past couple of years livestock prices have been strong which means that growing barley is not so attractive. They have stuck with it though - which is really appreciated by the distillery.
One described the harvest to me as "an emotional rollercoaster" - as the sun initially shone, before the heavens opened drowning out hopes of a truly bumper crop.
They managed 920 tons this year - a great result in the circumstances and the best yield yet. Next year it could be 1,000 tons - here'e hoping - and thanks...