The world’s oldest privately owned Scotch Whisky Distillery, Bladnoch, has unveiled The Dragon Series, a collection of five single malt whiskies celebrating the ‘natural unpredictability and captivating beauty’ of the whisky making craft.
Drawing its inspiration from the Dragon Curve, a fractional curve in mathematics that exemplifies the timeless battle between predictability and chaos, each Iteration in the series is intended to capture a pivotal moment in the whisky making process as variables interact to produce the final structure.
Bladnoch’s Master Distiller, Dr Nick Savage, explained: “The Dragon Curve demonstrates the science versus nature of predictability, chaos, natural order, and beauty. The building of The Dragon Series whiskies really brought this to life in the sample room.
“We have attempted to demonstrate the resultant beauty that occurs from the natural unpredictability inherent within our whisky making process, which we endeavour to control over the decades.
“These five expressions of the Dragon Series have evolved to really capture the essence of each iteration of our process. It will be fascinating to hear everyone’s personal interpretation and appreciation for our whisky making. The Dragon Series also gives us great confidence and excitement upon which to build and bring to life more concepts with Bladnoch in the future.”
The 1st Iteration of The Dragon Series is ‘The Field’, and tells the journey from Field to Distillery, as barley is harvested and undergoes the process of malting. Even before it arrives, this raw material has been shaped by the unpredictable and diverse forces of nature, environment, and the malting process.
Bottled at 46.7% ABV and matured in refill bourbon casks, this offers toasted barley with floral cut grass on the nose, while the palate is a refreshing combination of citrus apples and creamy shortbread.
The second Iteration is ‘The Spirit’, capturing the first stage of distillery production, through the three pivotal processes of mashing, fermentation, and distillation, and the numerous variables like gravities, temperatures, and cut points.
Bottled at 48.3% ABV, this whisky comes from a blend of 1st fill and refill bourbon casks. On the nose, you can expect pear drops with fresh cut grass. On the palate, you’ll find malted cereal with boiled sweets and a hint of cracked pepper.
The third Iteration is ‘The Casks’ showcasing the element of variability within the process of cask coopering, including the oak species, growth environment, and technical aspects of toasting, charring, and seasoning.
This expression is bottled at 49.9% ABV and combines the richness of 1st fill American Oak bourbon casks with the complexity of 1st fill Spanish oak sherry casks. On the nose, cinnamon sticks and root ginger are prominent, with a background of citrus notes. The palate features raisins with a toffee popcorn sweetness and a hint of root ginger spice.
The fourth Iteration is ‘The Ageing’, focussing on maturation and seasonal fluctuations in temperature and humidity, warehouse type and location, as well as the evaporation of the “angels’ share” which all contribute to complexity.
To accentuate these effects, casks have been chosen from the darkest and coldest areas in Bladnoch’s warehousing. Bottled at 51.1%, this whisky is matured in Red Wine Hogshead and 1st fill bourbon casks. On the nose, the scent is polished oak and honey, and on the palate there’s a sweet oak taste with wild blackberry notes.
Finally, the fifth Iteration is The Decision, dedicated to the craftsmanship involved in whisky making in the sample room where the decisions are made for the final products. Here, all the variabilities and unpredictabilities are considered and weighed against each other, with a keen eye on future prospects and a steadfast commitment to delivering a consistent and sustainable whisky experience.
This is bottled at a robust 53.1%, using a blend of Hungarian Tokaji wine casks and Spanish Canasta sherry casks. On the nose, this Iteration is characterised by the scent of crushed red grapes and coffee cremes. On the palate, the taste of coffee cremes is complemented by the sweet and tangy flavour of apricots, with a hint of nutmeg.
The Dragon Series will be available to buy online via Bladnoch’s website and in their Visitor Centre in the heart of Dumfries and Galloway and will be sold globally through Bladnoch’s network of distributors.
