
Finlaggan Old Reserve review
November 28, 2015
Bunnahabhain 12 year old review
December 1, 2015Black Bull Deluxe 12 year old review

Black Bull is a Deluxe Blended Soctch whisky brand by Duncan Taylor. Deluxe, because along with a non age statement called Kyloe, they also have very old blended whiskies under the label. They have Black Bull 21, 30 and 40 year old whiskies. I myself am not a fan of blends so I always take “deluxe” or “premium” blended whiskies with a pinch of salt. So I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting much from Black Bull 12 year old whisky. The fact that it didn’t even have a majority of malt, didn’t sound good to me.
Black Bull 12YO is made using Highland and Speyside malt whiskies matured in refill Ex-Sherry European Oak butts and refill Ex-Bourbon American Oak hogsheads. Then the malt is being blended together with Lowland grain whisky matured in refill Ex-Bourbon American Oak barrels. The ratio is 50% malt to 50% grain and Duncan Taylor bottles the whisky cask strength with an alcohol per volume level of 50%. The whisky is un-chill filtered.
Really a DARK HORSE
Like I mentioned before, I was being an elitist about this blend, but Black Bull 12YO managed to surprise me big time! I really wasn’t expecting “a ride of my life” like some marketing texts implied, but it didn’t fall much short from that. The name does imply a bit more, there is horsepower behind this dram but it is no bull. It is definitely black: dark in every way and that’s why I like it.
I’m gonna name this the Dark Horse. No, this isn’t like the movie in question (this is much better), the name just fits right in with this dram. Make sure to use some water with this blend.