Duncan Taylor debuts 55YO whisky

Scotland-based Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky has partnered with English golfer Sir Nick Faldo to release four Black Bull whiskies, including a 55-year-old expression.

The limited edition releases – 18-, 30-, 50- and 55-year-old whiskies – join the brand’s Tale of Two Legends series.

Each expression is blended using spirits from Duncan Taylor’s whisky collection.

The 50- and 55-year-old bottlings have been blended with liquid from closed distilleries, and others in Scotland. Bottled at 47% ABV, both expressions are limited to 600 bottles each.

The 50-year-old contains malts from Speyside distillery Caperdonich, which closed in 2002, and The Macallan and Glen Grant. It is priced at RRP £6,000 (US$7,372).

Matured in ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, the whisky is said to offer notes of damsons, Highland toffee and caramelised orange peel, with a finish of fruit, spice and toasted oak.

Meanwhile, the 55-year-old is made using Sherry hogsheads, grain and malt whiskies from Lochside Distillery, which stopped production in 1992.

Tasting notes include dark fruits and gentle spice, with nutty notes from first-fill Sherry hogsheads. The whisky carries a price tag of £9,600 (US$11,800).

Milestone moments

The 18-year-old and 30-year-old bottlings were matured in Sherry casks, and were created to mark milestone events in Faldo’s career, with the former celebrating the age he became a professional golfer. The 30-year-old pays tribute to the number of wins Faldo collected on the European Tour.

The 18-year-old whisky is bottled at 50% ABV and has an RRP of £120 (US$147). The 30-year-old (47% ABV) retails at £600 (US$737).

Euan Shand, chairman of Aberdeenshire-based Duncan Taylor, said: “This year we are going big and bold with our releases and the ‘Tale of Two Legends’ series comes hot on the heels of one of the oldest Macallan whiskies we’ve ever launched.

“Together with Sir Nick, we’ve handpicked some of our best whiskies within our archives and blended them meticulously to create four stunning blends that are worthy of celebrating some of the iconic times in his life.”

Faldo selected the whiskies last year alongside Shand and his son, Andrew Shand, who is senior operations and spirits manager.

“I’ve always loved whisky and it was fascinating to delve deep into the process of blended whiskies to create this range,” said Faldo, a three-time winner of both the Open Championship and the Masters golf tournament.

The new additions to the Tale of Two Legends series coincides with a brand refresh for the Black Bull whisky portfolio.

Shand added: “Timing it with our rebrand of the entire portfolio is perfect and we look forward to launching these new releases as the official sponsor of the Pro-Am golf event in Bangalore this week, followed by global distribution.”

In October 2020, Duncan Taylor lost its trademark appeal against Loch Ness Spirits over the use of the famous Scottish loch’s name.