FROM CHAOS COMES BEAUTY
Introducing the Dragon Series: a collection of five exceptional single malt whiskies that celebrate the captivating unpredictability of the whisky making craft.
THE DRAGON SERIES
Without order nothing can exist. Without chaos nothing can evolve.
Inspired by the Dragon Curve, a fractional curve in mathematics that emerges from a simple origin. Every iteration in its approach to infinity is ruled by unpredictability – until the chaos evolves into a natural, spectacular order.
The Dragon Series pays homage to this timeless battle between Science and Nature. Each Iteration highlights the scale of variability in the whisky production process while celebrating the inherent beauty that emerges each step of the way.
Iteration I
The Field
Iteration I is the origin for our all whisky. Barley is harvested annually from the farmers field before undergoing the process of malting. The resulting malted barley gives us the main raw material for our distillery. Before this raw material even arrives at the distillery, we have already encountered variety and variability from nature, our environment, and the malting process itself.
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NOSE
Toasted Barley with Floral Cut Grass
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PALATE
Citrus Apples and Creamy Shortbread
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FINISH
Refreshing and Sweet
![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0536/0022/3429/files/iteration2.png?v=1684219092")
Iteration II
THE SPIRIT
Iteration II is the first distillery production stage. The malted barley from the field is taken through the three key processes of mashing, fermentation and distillation. The potential variables and unpredictability further multiply through these steps with gravities, temperatures and cut points to name a few, all requiring a deep understanding from our mash and still men, ensuring we have a consistent new make spirit. This Lowland floral and fruity distillery character is ready to advance to be filled into our oak casks for maturation.
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NOSE
Pear Drops with Fresh Cut Grass
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PALATE
Malted Cereal with Boiled Sweets and a Hint of Cracked Pepper
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FINISH
Refreshing yet Warm
Iteration III
THE CASKS
Iteration III in the series showcases another primary source of variability within the parallel process of cask coopering. The coopering of our casks has to consider a multitude of variables, ranging from oak species and the growth environment, through to the technical challenges of toasting, charring and seasoning. All of which can have a significant butterfly effect on our final whisky if the natural chaos within is not crafted by the Cooper.
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NOSE
Cinnamon Sticks and Root Ginger, with a Background of Citrus Notes
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PALATE
Raisins with a Toffee Popcorn Sweetness and a Hint of Root Ginger Spice
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FINISH
Thick, Long, and Warm for a Lasting Impression
Iteration IV
THE AGEING
Iteration IV focuses on the longest, the most complex and least understood process of maturation. Casks filled with new make spirit undertake years and decades of interactions with their environment, building an unpredictable structure for the whisky to come. Those who lay the casks down, pass them to a future generation, who will be the custodians of the results. The seasonal cycling of temperature and humidity, warehouse type and location, combining with the angels, to give us significant complexity to manage. Casks have been sought from the darkest, coldest locations in Bladnoch’s warehousing to amplify these effects in the Iteration IV.
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NOSE
Polished Oak and Honey, with an Earth Undertone
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PALATE
Sweet Oak Taste with Tantalising Wild Blackberry Notes
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FINISH
Sweet and Warm, with a Gentle Spiciness
Iteration V
THE DECISION
Iteration V focuses on Whisky making in the sample room, where the decisions are made for our final products. All variability and unpredictability is considered at the bench, protecting tomorrows interests, whilst balancing todays needs for a consistent and sustainable experience for everyone. Taking the full complexity encountered to date, and simplifying it in these final steps. With innovation opportunities and the skills to build flexibly maturing stocks, the variability and unpredictability of everything in the process curve to this point, should not be noticed by anyone if we make the right decisions.
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NOSE
Crushed Red Grapes and Coffee Cremes
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PALATE
Coffee Cremes Complemented by the Sweet and Tangy Flavour of Apricots, with a Hint of Nutmeg that Adds Depth and Complexity
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FINISH
Thick and Long-lasting, with a Satisfying Sweetness that Lingers on the Tongue
Australia
United Kingdom