Older blends can be wonderful at times, and having said that, and tasted the Black Bull 12, I was very keen on trying the Black Bull 40 year old Batch #2 (which is the latest). Black Bull 40 year old is made of 90% single malt and 10% single grain and is bottled at cask strength (at this older age this is usually not very high due to angel’s share). The spirit is completely natural, without chill filtration or added colorant. Such a High malt content is common in older blends, but 90% malt is indeed a very high malt content even for a 40 year old premium blend. Cask content is mostly ex-Bourbon (about 80%) with the rest coming from ex-Sherry casks. The blend itself is comprised of whiskies from Invergordon, Tamdhu, Bunnahabhain & The Glenlivet. Very limited batch as you can see with only 957 bottles ever made.
So without further ado, shall we taste this one?
Black Bull 40 year old , batch #2, 41.9 % ABV ,957 bottles , £112
Nose: Starting on fruits seasoned with wee cinnamon – stewed peaches, apples, some sweet honey dew. Woody? Nope. the wood is not very prominent here, and this is indeed surprising.
Palate: Spicy, then malty, and then enters the sherry goodness. Sultanas, the stewed fruits from the nose, and some chocolate and Marzipan mixed with wood. Very good, and very well integrated.
Finish : Long on chocolate, cocoa, and some fruit.
Bottom line:
Wonderful stuff! I want more. Great blending by DC. A real stunner at the top of its class.
Score: 90 / 100
many thanks to Jemma of Duncan Taylor for the sample
I thought by the title this might be a compare between Batch#1 and Batch#2. I would very mush like to see that bull by both horns.
good idea!
now where do i get a sample of batch#1?