Black Bull 12 Year (Duncan Taylor)

This is the sixth whisky from a collection of twelve blended whiskies I am assessing, and this one is truly remarkable. Nose: Abundant rich sherry, malt, and oak create an immersive blanket of scents, reminiscent of a sherry-forward Speyside single malt. Vanilla and toffee are present, alongside deep floral notes like violets and damask rose, which are subtle and add complexity without making the aroma overly sweet or floral. Palate: Following the substantial and potent nose, the palate was a pleasant surprise—equally impressive but juicy, textured, and remarkably crisp with a bright, clean entry. I anticipated a thick and sweet profile, but that was not the case. The grain component is expertly integrated, maintaining a lean and balanced character. This exemplifies excellent blending! There's a robust alcohol presence (50% ABV), yet it doesn't deliver a crude impact or harsh burn. Enjoyable sherry and oak flavors mingle with dark fruits, orchard fruits, dark cherries, treacle, and plum pudding. Finish: Medium to long. It gently recedes with a slightly spicy, yet very juicy, sherry and dark chocolate note that stimulates salivation. Initially, I sampled this neat, then added approximately 5ml of water to the remaining 20ml in the glass. This adjustment minimally altered the profile but softened it slightly, allowing more delicate nuances of the previously noted aromas and flavors to surface. It revealed hints of dark marmalade during its development and brought the grain whisky more prominently forward. This is a rich, well-rounded, full-bodied, premium scotch blend that could easily be mistaken for a malt blend. It is very pleasing and significantly superior to the other blends I have recently evaluated. To be fair, it costs two to three times as much as the others, but at AUD$90, it represents good value and is comparable to, or surpasses, any other blend in this price range (and many malt blends and single malts too). A delightful dram. "Good": 83/100 (3.5 stars)

A robust, Blended Scotch Whisky from Duncan Taylor & Co. in Scotland. This is a mix of 50% classic Highland single malts and 50% Lowland grains, aged together in former Bourbon barrels for a complete 12 years. It begins aromatically with hints of red fruits, cherry, grains, nuts, toffee, spices, cocoa, and lemon curd. Its life is bold and zesty, featuring notes of milk chocolate, apple, and butter toffee, culminating in a smooth, comforting finish of moderate duration with flavors of sweet berries and caramel. February / October 2020 / August 2022

I'm a big fan of this! The aroma is predominantly sherry, with a final hint of vanilla oak. The taste is sweet and complex, with oak, vanilla, and caramel transitioning into a well-balanced tannin. The mouthfeel is delightful, and all of this at 50% ABV without dilution is remarkable. Adding water reveals a treacle note in the aroma and softens the taste while extending and separating the tannic finish. I actually prefer it neat. 4 Stars or 92

A decent blend for the price point. It offers abundant fruit flavors like apple, pear, lemon, and cherry, complemented by notes of vanilla and honey. There's also a subtle impression reminiscent of sparkling white wine. While lacking significant depth and being slightly fiery, I would readily purchase it again if seeking a fruit-forward Speyside blend with a higher alcohol content.

The grain alcohol is immediately apparent. Perhaps the malt-to-grain ratio has been altered. The sherry cask addition is not unwelcome, but I constantly struggle with the grain alcohol presence. There are superior blended malts available, and even better blended Scotches at this price point that are more skillfully integrated.

A fine blend! The significant malt content is evident, as is the higher alcohol by volume; this is a rich, viscous dram. It has a gentle layer of fresh fruit, vanilla, and spice over a robust foundation of earthy grain. This possesses enough character to perform well in a cocktail, which is a compliment!