Work is concluding on a new barley drying, storage and weighing facility at Craigfad on the Isle of Islay.

It will be ready in time for the 2009 harvest due at the end of this month and the beginning of September. 1000 tons of Islay barely destined to be Bruichladdich single malt whisky is currently ripening around the Island.  Once combined, it will be brought here in trailers to be weighed on our neat red weigh bridge - seen here being calibrated (though I am assured that Mr Wood will not be sitting on it when lorries are in position). Then the barley will be dried over the  stainless steel grid which sits on top of a hypercaust-like arrangement to remove excess moisture should there be any. The barley will then be stored in a  new purpose-built warehouse, each of the 15 different Islay farm's crop will be stored separately, until ready for malting.

Being able to dry our barley 'off the field' will make harvesting logistics much less frantic, and considerably less risky, while at the same time allowing for more efficient deliveries to our maltings at Bairds - taking one load of 'green' barley up, and bringing one load of malted barley back.  In addition, another 1000 tons of organically Scottish grown barley is being harvested on the mainland from another 8 farms. 100% of Bruichladdich's barley is Scottish grown - it is after all Scotch whisky.