At Curraghmore, every season has its rhythm. And as the barley begins to bend gold under the late summer light, we enter one of the most pivotal moments in the year: harvest.
But here, harvest is not just a task to complete. It is a decision. A conversation between land, weather and instinct. A time to listen closely, to walk slowly, and to wait. Until the grain tells us it is ready.
The first step in a long journey
Cultivating the cereal used in distillation is the first and one of the most important parts of our whiskey-making process. This foundation determines everything that follows: screening the cereal for diseases, drying and malting, distillation, filling our select casks, and finally, the art of maturation here at Curraghmore Estate.
Yet cultivating the land to grow malting barley and other cereals is no exact science. It takes generations of knowledge to have the ability to make the right decisions. Weather patterns shift, soil conditions vary, and each season brings its challenges. What guides us is not just data or textbooks, but the accumulated wisdom passed down through countless harvests.
This week, Richard and Ned Morrissey have been doing just that. Richard, who oversees every detail of our whiskey-making, understands the precise character the grain must deliver. Ned, our Head of Tillage, brings decades of experience working the soil on this estate. Between them is a quiet understanding. Of the weight of this work. And the legacy it serves.
As a master cereal farmer with years of intimate knowledge of our land, Ned understands every field, every soil variation, and every nuance that defines Curraghmore’s terroir. His deep connection to this estate spans decades of experience, allowing him to read the land like few others can. This agricultural mastery directly translates to superior grain quality, which becomes the foundation of our liquid’s character.
Reading the signs
The barley we grow at Curraghmore is not hurried. It is shaped by time, by weather, and by the land that has sustained this estate for over eight centuries. And though we may chart calendars and check forecasts, the truth is simple. The barley decides.
Each field is different. Soil composition, slope, and exposure to wind and sun all shape how the grain matures. One section may be ready days before another. That is why we harvest in parts, never all at once. Our approach is guided by a deep knowledge of the land. Knowing when to move, and when to hold back.
Specific Signs
Moisture Content: The barley needs to reach optimal moisture levels for both quality and storage. Ned’s experience allows him to gauge this with remarkable precision.
Grain Development: Grains that are plump and firm, with just the right balance of moisture. A husk that yields slightly to the touch. Each kernel must be fully developed, with the starches properly formed, that will eventually convert to the sugars essential for whiskey production.
Visual Transformation: A shift in colour, from green to gold, then from gold to something deeper. The way the barley moves in the breeze indicates the moisture content and structural integrity of the crop.
These are not guesswork. They are signals honed by generations.
From field to future whiskey
These pre-harvest assessments represent the first crucial quality control point in our grain-to-glass process. Every decision made in these fields will ultimately influence the character of our whiskey years down the line. The grain we’re preparing to harvest will eventually become part of Curraghmore’s distinctive single estate whiskey – a liquid that truly reflects the terroir of this land.
Every harvest is different each year at Curraghmore. And this is why we record the conditions each year. In time, it will be interesting to see if each harvest shines its own identity through each year’s batch of single estate whiskey. Weather patterns, rainfall, sunshine hours, soil temperature – all these variables create a unique fingerprint for each vintage that may ultimately express itself in the glass years later.
For us, this is not simply agriculture. It is stewardship. A practice of care, of attention, and of respect for what the land can give when treated with patience. Ned consistently delivers optimal quality and yield from our soil through meticulous crop management, precise timing, and an intuitive understanding of what our fields need to flourish.
Where legacy lives
As we prepare for harvest, we know that the story of our next whiskey begins not in the distillery, but here. In the quiet fields of Curraghmore. Where grain meets legacy. And the soil still has the final word.
This is farming at its most precise, agriculture guided by generations of knowledge and a commitment to excellence that defines everything we do at Curraghmore. From seed to spirit, every step matters, and harvest timing is where that philosophy truly shows.
We’ll keep you updated on our progress as we move closer to that crucial harvest moment. Follow our social channels for real-time updates from the fields, and watch as this year’s crop makes its journey from Curraghmore soil to future whiskey.
The countdown to harvest continues – weather permitting, of course.
