The Gauldrons Campbeltown Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, 46.2%, 70cl -

Product Information

I have a minute complaint about the mouth. The initial sensation when this whisky touched my tongue contrasted sharply with the nose. It was very messy, so the close-to-perfect impression that emerged from the nose was ruined. Thankfully, the everlasting parade of flavors that remain make up for the mess. The Gauldrons is a blended malt Scotch whisky, which means it is a blend of single malt whiskies from different distilleries within the Campbeltown region. The art of blending is a skill that has been honed over centuries in Scotland, and it requires a keen sense of taste and a deep knowledge of the characteristics of different whiskies. The master blender’s goal with The Gauldrons is to create a whisky that showcases the best of Campbeltown’s unique style, bringing together various expressions to create a harmonious and balanced whisky.

The Gauldrons, a unique and intriguing Scotch whisky, is steeped in history, tradition, and a hint of mystery. Produced in the Campbeltown region, one of the distinctive whisky-producing areas of Scotland, The Gauldrons stands out with its complex character and rich flavour profile, which are deeply influenced by the maritime climate and traditional distilling methods of the region. That said, The Gauldrons is a little steeper than the rest of the range and it’s been labelled as a limited release but that’s understandable, given the scarcity of Campbeltown whisky. There simply isn’t a lot of Springbank lying around and what is available, doesn’t come cheap. Then there’s Glengyle, which produces in such small quantities I can’t imagine there’s an abundance of that either. It seems safe to assume then, that the Gauldrons consists largely of Glen Scotia, with a small amount of the others added to make it a blended malt. So there it is, the second batch of The Gauldrons. Within the Regional Malts of independent distiller Douglas Laing this whisky is the representative of Campbeltown. It’s not revealed which malts are married for The Gauldrons, but you count the active distilleries of the peninsula of Campbeltown on one hand – and won’t need all fingers… The Gauldrons is a captivating blend of single malt Scotch whiskies from the Campbeltown region, known for its distinctive maritime character and complex flavour profile. It is a whisky that tells a story, capturing the essence of its region and the art of whisky blending in every sip. With its rich history, complex character, and the skill of the master blender behind it, The Gauldrons stands as a tribute to the whisky heritage of Campbeltown and a must-try for whisky enthusiasts and collectors alike. Apparently, the spider served as inspiration to King Robert the Bruce. After having been defeated by his enemies, he saw a spider building its web with great patience, yet difficulty. It encouraged him to try and try again.

This is an exciting release, though. Campbeltown is now home to three great distilleries and Douglas Laing know what they’re doing with these blends. I certainly wasn’t disappointed when I got hold of this one. It’s as good as anything else in the range and offers a perfect introduction to the Campbeltown style. It’s a little oily, a bit coastal and lightly smoky, full of flavour and intensity and it coats the mouth beautifully. A great dram.

The story of Bruce and the Spider is almost certainly just that – a story. It first appeared in the writings of Sir Walter Scott, a man for whom gritty realism was never a high priority. Similar stories were told about other significant historical figures, including Bruce’s colleague, James Douglas. Still, just like the spider, these stories are designed to inspire and to teach us a lesson – in this case – “if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again”. So while the link between Bruce’s spider and the whiskies of Campbeltown may be rather tenuous (that’s being generous) we’ll give Douglas Laing some leeway since it’s a nice story and the spider looks good on the label. The „bay of storms“, so the translation of the Gaelic name, means the west coast of Campbeltown where – according to a legend – the later King Robert the Bruce hid in a cave to escape his persuers (not to annoy the Scottish, but only to be honest: there is another version of this legend which sees the cave on the Irish Rathlin Island, west of Campbeltown…) The Gauldrons is often enjoyed neat or with a drop of water, which can help to open up the aromas and flavours, allowing the drinker to appreciate the complexity and nuances of this exceptional whisky fully. It is also a favourite among whisky connoisseurs and collectors, who appreciate its unique character and the sense of history and tradition that it embodies. In autumn 2017 the first batch of The Gauldrons was released, now the second batch is available and it is also very limited. As the first one it was bottled at 46.2 % ABV, uncoloured and unchill-filtered. The aroma is characterized by notes of honey, brown sugar, vanilla, spice, salt, oak and light smoke.We’re currently delivering to the following countries including Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand (16 of 17 regions), Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, & United States (20 of 62 states inc Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC, & Wyoming).