Black Bull 12 Year Old (Duncan Taylor) vs Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.

Black Bull 12 Year Old (Duncan Taylor)Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)
DistilleryDuncan TaylorDouglas Laing
Region
CountryScotlandScotland
TypeBlendedBlended Malt
ABV50%46%
Age12 yrNAS
Price£38.5£36.52
Rating4.53/55.00/5

Black Bull 12 Year Old (Duncan Taylor)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness64/100
Beginner70/100
Value100/100

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness60/100
Beginner75/100
Value100/100

Black Bull 12 Year Old (Duncan Taylor)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) is rated higher (5.00 vs 4.53).

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) is better value at £37 vs £39.

For beginners: Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Black Bull 12 Year Old (Duncan Taylor)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More widely reviewed by the community
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • More expensive (£38.5 vs £36.52)
  • Lower community rating (4.5 vs 5.0)

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More affordable (£36.52 vs £38.5)

Cons

  • Niche style — may not suit all palates

Who should buy Black?

Black Bull 12 Year Old (Duncan Taylor) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Blended character.

Who should buy Speyside?

Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling) is an ideal first whisky — sweet, approachable, and widely available. It's a great gift and a safe choice for anyone new to whisky or who prefers lighter, friendlier drams.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

Malt ExtractVanilla

Only Black Bull 12 Year Old (Duncan Taylor)

ToastedHoneyOld Wood

Only Speyside & Lowland - Double Barrel (Douglas Laing) (Old Bottling)

Fresh Fruit

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