Bladnoch The Dragon Series Iteration I The Field Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

"...a great thing that two or three distilleries—perhaps even fewer—continue to preserve this delightfully simple and cheerful style. " - whiskyfun.com

Bladnoch released The Dragon Series back in 2023 as a collection of five single malts, drawing inspiration from the Dragon Curve, a fractional curve in mathematics that showcases predictability and chaos, natural order and beauty. The concept was that after blending, each expression in the series should capture a pivotal moment in the whisky-making process, highlighting the scale of variability, while celebrating the beauty that can emerge along the way.

Number one in the series, The Field, tells the journey from field to distillery. Each year, barley is harvested and undergoes malting, serving as the primary raw material for the distillery. But before it arrives at the facility, it's already been shaped by diverse forces of nature, environment, and the malting process. Matured in re-fill bourbon casks, the resulting whisky is refreshing and sweet, capturing the essence of the paddock, with notes of toasted barley and floral cut grass, and a palate featuring a combination of citrus apples and creamy shortbread. 2000 bottles produced. 46.7% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... This is a no nonsense Bladnoch, back to the basics with a spirit forward whisky which gives you all the tastes of the lowlands. - whiskybase.com

...One might often think that modern whisky is an industrial product, made in facilities run by two or three people and some quasi-quantum computers. But then you read this on Bladnoch’s website and feel reassured: ‘The Dragon Series showcases the scale of variability encountered throughout the process, which is seemingly chaotic and unpredictable.’ That’s exactly what we love, is it not? Colour: pale white wine. Nose: apple cake and lemon cake, neither quite baked enough, which really brings out the cereal and yeasty notes we always enjoy. A few spring flowers and very gentle touches of honey. Feels rather close to those Bladnochs from the 1990s, really. Mouth: indeed, very typical, somewhere between Fanta and 7Up, fresh lemon juice, then fresh barley and orange juice. Nothing chaotic here, I find this very much ‘Bladnoch au naturel.’ Finish: medium length, still on barley and citrus, with a finale of green apple and a faint touch of coffee. Comments: I find this very pretty and refreshing, and it’s a great thing that two or three distilleries—perhaps even fewer—continue to preserve this delightfully simple and cheerful style. 85 points - whiskyfun.com