Black Bull is a premium blend made by Duncan Taylor. It’s the entry-level offering under the excellent Black Bull 30yo and Black Bull 40yo. It contains 50% malt whisky and 50% grain whisky and is non-chill filtered.
Black Bull 12 yo
(50%, Duncan Taylor 2012)
Black Bull 12 yoNose: aromatic nose, a tad more grainy than the others but it’s a “malty” graininess if you know what I mean. It’s muesli and cereals rather than the harsh, synthetic graininess and alcoholic kick that you sometimes get in cheap blends or actual grain whisky. Berry aromas and oranges. Some pencil shavings. Soft pepper. Hints of earthy sherry in the background.
Mouth: oily, malty and slightly nutty. Apples, raisins, cinnamon and pepper. Oranges. Balanced oak. Growing cocoa / toffee notes towards the end.
Finish: medium long, quite dry and peppery, with lingering oak and a slightly raw edge.
Quite a rich blend, well constructed, without an obvious grain influence. I’ve seen this being sold for € 33 to around 50, shop around to find the best deal.
Score: 82/100