Black Bull 40 Year Old Batch 7 (70cl, 47.6%)

Black Bull 40 Year Old is the flagship of the Black Bull range from Duncan Taylor, a blend of single malt and single grain whiskies aged between 40 and 51 years. This is batch 7, bottled at cask strength, 47.6% ABV, in a run of 1,500 bottles. It was made without chill filtration or added colour. Malt makes up 86% of the blend, from distilleries including Glenlivet, Macallan, Caperdonich, Highland Park and Bunnahabhain. The other 14% is grain whisky, including Caledonian and Dumbarton. The nose offers sweet sherry, toffee apples, milk chocolate, grapefruit, mango, parma violets and dried bananas. The palate is very smooth and gentle with lively fruit, then vanilla, toffee popcorn, fruit cake and a touch of hazelnut.