The Gauldrons Small Batch Release
70cl / 46.2%
£49.00
- Malt type: Blended Malt
- Region: Scotland
- Chilfiltered: No
- Coloring: No
Tasting Notes
Sea, Smoke and Floral
Ginger, Pepper, Sea Salt and Vanilla
Short Finish, Vanilla, Liquorice, Smoke and Ginger
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A non-chill filtered, small-batch blended malt that powerfully embodies the signature maritime and spiced character of the rugged Campbeltown region.
1. Historical Context
1.1 Naming & Era Signals
The name of this blended malt, "The Gauldrons," is a historical and geographical reference. It literally translates from Gaelic as the “Bay of Storms,” referring to the dark, rugged, and windswept coves located on the west shores of the Campbeltown peninsula. This name intentionally evokes the atmospheric and often intense regional character of the whisky, particularly its maritime and sometimes peppery notes.
The Gauldrons is part of the Douglas Laing Remarkable Regional Malts series, which functions as an 'ultimate distillation' of Scotland's five main whisky regions, representing Campbeltown.
1.2 Ownership & Production Era
The Gauldrons is a proprietary blended malt created by Douglas Laing & Co., a proudly independent, family-owned Scotch whisky blender and bottler established in 1948. The company focuses on bottling whisky "as natural as it gets," a philosophy that guides the creation of the Remarkable Regional Malts range. As a blended malt, the expression is a marriage of finest Campbeltown Malts exclusively sourced from the region. The liquid is not produced in a single distillery but is the result of Douglas Laing’s blending expertise using components selected from their extensive stock.
2. Technical Specification & Variant Map
2.1 Documented Variants (Strength/Volume/Market)
The Gauldrons is produced in Small Batches, with each batch being numbered to allow comparison between subsequent releases.
- Strength: 46.2 ABV.
- Volume: 70cl (standard release size).
- Market: Global release as part of the Remarkable Regional Malts series.
2.2 Packaging & Authenticity Checklist
The design features an intricate golden spider's web prominently displayed on the packaging, serving as a visual ode to the brand's aesthetic. The whisky is bottled in very small batches.
2.3 Regulatory/Terminology Notes (if applicable)
The Gauldrons is bottled without colouring and is non-chill filtered. This bottling approach ensures the spirit retains the natural oils and esters, contributing to a more robust mouthfeel and perceived intensity. As a Blended Malt, it contains a mixture of single malt whiskies from two or more distilleries in the specified region.
3. Liquid Profile (from verified notes)
Nose: Fresh and fruity, carrying notes of sweet vanilla, malty warmth, and green apples. Distinct aromas of fresh lime zest, brown sugar, creamy caramel, and pear peel are often present, layered with a salty note.
Palate: Unfolds with spicy, pithy intensity. A robust base of peppery intensity, strong oak notes, and a pinch of salted caramel. Flavours of roasted peanuts, honey, black pepper, liquorice, and a touch of anise are commonly noted.
Finish: Short to medium-length and somewhat dry. The close is sweet, with lingering spices, burnt sugar, and a subtle touch of oak and background smoke.
With water: Not stated by the producer.
5. Distillery/Bottler Snapshot (brief)
Douglas Laing & Co. is a third-generation, family-owned bottler and blender, founded in 1948. Their core philosophy is to bottle whiskies "as natural as it gets" (non-chill filtered, no colouring). The Gauldrons is one of their popular Remarkable Regional Malts, specifically crafted to be the ultimate embodiment of the Campbeltown single malt style, achieved through expert marriage of Campbeltown's finest malts.
