Black Bull 40 Years Old (Duncan Taylor)

Black Bull 40 Years Old (Duncan Taylor) is a blended Scotch from Duncan Taylor. It marries malt and grain whiskies into a balanced whole. Campbeltown has a long blending heritage in the old whisky capital of Scotland.

Grain whisky lends a lighter frame while the malts bring depth and an oily, coastal character. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla under the oily fruit. Long maturation suits the heavy, characterful make, the cask knitting slowly with the spirit. The blender marries the whiskies to a house style, the Campbeltown malt lending weight. A coastal, oily thread runs through the blend from its Campbeltown component. The grain and malts are married and rested together before bottling. Blends like this fold a Campbeltown heart into a balanced Scotch. The maker selects casks for the depth each lends to the whole. A period of marrying brings the parts into balance.

At 40.2%, undiluted, it is deep and powerful. Dried fruit, oily malt and a coastal salt run through it, with a soft oak spice. Soft fruit and brine sit behind the cask sweetness. The close is rich, fruit over a saline depth. A characterful blended Scotch with a Campbeltown heart.