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An eventful summer at the Distillerie des Cantons

Hello everyone,

July has been an incredibly eventful month at the Distillerie des Cantons ! We have been working relentlessly to prepare for the 2023 harvest, but nature has also reminded us who is truly in charge. Here is a look at what’s happening on our lands across the Missisquoi River.

Our Facilities Are Ready for Harvest

The big news is that our two grain silos are officially ready! One of them is already connected to our propane system. This will allow us to dry the grain to the perfect humidity level for our whisky production. We have also hooked up our temporary power pole for the season.

In fact, if you drop by, you might see Gautier and Olivier installing the motor on our grain auger, the essential piece of equipment that will allow us to load our harvests directly into the silos.

A Tale of Two Grains: Rye Triumphs, Barley Struggles

This year, we are experiencing a stark contrast in our fields:

  • Fall Rye: After a few days of rain, our rye fields look absolutely superb and very dense. The grains are beautiful! We are now just waiting for 4 to 5 consecutive days of dry weather. This will allow the soil to dry out enough so our combine harvester can enter the field without sinking into the mud. The harvest is imminent!

  • Organic Barley: Unfortunately, the torrential rains in July wreaked havoc. Excess moisture led to the appearance of fungi and diseases; the leaves have turned yellow and black. Furthermore, weeds (like smartweed) and regrowth from last year's buckwheat took advantage of the situation to take over. We are monitoring the situation closely, but a large portion of this crop seems lost. This is the harsh reality of organic farming.

Biodiversity and Small Fruits

A stream flows through the middle of our lands, which we restored by creating buffer zones. Nature has quickly reclaimed the space: birds, bees, butterflies, and insects have made it their home. It is beautiful to see this ecosystem flourishing right in the heart of our farm. We even have some wild fauna coming to snack in our fields!

We have also been planning for the future by planting 75 plum trees on our property. These fruits will eventually be used to develop new spirits and fruit alcohols.

Community Support and… Action!

The heavy rains on July 19th didn't just damage our barley. On one of our rented properties, the sheer force of the water completely washed out a 48-inch culvert, taking the access road with it! Fortunately, the municipality intervened quickly to repair everything, just in time for us to access the field for the rye harvest. A huge thank you to them.

Finally, we have some special guests these days! The Content-Content production crew is on-site filming our daily life for an upcoming documentary series about our project.

Thank you for following us on this great adventure. Fingers crossed for some sunshine!

  • Martin


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