Black Bull is the brand of blended whiskies made by Duncan Taylor. I can confirm they’ve done an excellent job with Black Bull 30yo and Black Bull 40yo and even the youngest member, Black Bull 12yo, has just won a IWSC award.
Now there’s a limited Special Reserve. It doesn’t mention an age.
Black Bull ‘Special Reserve No. 1’
(46,6%, Duncan Taylor 2011, 978 btl.)
Black Bull ‘Special Reserve No. 1’Nose: quite rich with hay and a light bread crust, mixed with a nice coconut / vanilla / banana combination that is so typical for grain whisky. Some nutty aromas (sweet almonds). Oranges. Cinnamon. Honey. Everything is wrapped in elegant old oak. Great balance with an emphasis on the malt contents.
Mouth: dry start, joined by slightly bitter notes before moving towards sweeter, fruitier notes. Honey, yellow raisins, a little toffee. Vanilla again. But there’s always a slightly bitter edge of cereals, oak and orange zest.
Finish: quite long, with mocha and honey as well as drier spices.
Another great Black Bull, with plenty of elements that are more typical to (old) malts than to regular blends. Probably a “compact” blend of only a few casks, usually they are very good. Probably around € 120, expected in stores soon.
Score: 86/100