 argo0 (6004), Washington DC, USA
May 15, 2008
(33cl bottle, #02982, Sept07, vertical with the 12 & 16) Black body with small, quickly dissipating tan head. Aroma is moderately sweet, vanilla, chocolate, molasses, some whisky/peat, plum/raisin, roast,. Taste is moderately sweet, roasty molasses, some chocolate, vanilla, light whisky/peat. Smooth medium body, seemingly lighter than the 12 or 16, almost watery by comparison -- dangerously drinkable. Scotch is complementary rather than overpowering.
alexanderj (1186), Roanoke, Virginia, USA
Jul 8, 2008 Bottle shared courtesy of KieferUGA. Poured a dark brown with reddish hints; nice color. Aroma was very complex, albeit not great. Meat, smoke, whisky and peat with some light chocolate residue. Carbonation was a bit too low for my liking. I normally don’t mind a soft palate, but this just didn’t work too well. Finish was very abrupt and flat. I think my dislike for the palate, tempered my liking of the flavor. Flavor was generally meaty, roasty, peat and whiskey. Surprisingly, I liked the 12 year old better, but definitely glad I had this.
carruthm (253), USA
Jul 6, 2008 On cask from Seattle IBF
black, thin, no head, impenetrable hue.
aroma of whiskey, anise, black licorice
taste of coffee and dark chocolate, somewhat muted
smooth palate, little tickle from the alcohol
mgumby10 (1480), West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Jul 5, 2008 Pours black as night, with a tiny, quickly dissipating, light brown head. Smells of peat, creamy vanilla, rich toffee, and graham crackers. The nose also seemed more subtle than the other vintages, with the peat being more noticeable I thought. The flavor was more on the roasty chocolatey side, with the peaty smoke becoming apparent in the strong finish and lingering aftertaste. Some roasty burnt charcoal was also evident especially in the bitter leavings. This seemed a bit more toned down than the other offerings, obviously due to its age in the cask. Still, quite sharp in its characters and quite enjoyable as well. Bravo to this whole experimental series!
handsomejn (12), Arkansas, USA
Jul 5, 2008 It pours a thick black with a thin brown top which dissipates quickly. The taste is a rich dark chocolate, semi-sweet, with hints of vanilla, molasses, smoke, whiskey and oak. It has a wonderful mustiness that is not at all unpleasant. The flavor is extremely complex. The smell is best appreciated just after the swallow, as it then comes from the back, into the sensory part of the nose. It has a long wonderful aftertaste. This beer is concentrated enough that you have no problem drinking it slow. It has a mild bite and burn starting in the middle and extending into the aftertaste, more than I expected considering it is only 8% alcohol. The long finish is all oak. This is one of the best beers I’ve tasted.
RagallachMC (608), Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Jul 4, 2008 12oz bottle. Bottle# 10364. Aroma: Rich roasted maltiness with notes of peat smoke, chocolate, caramel and anise. Barrel aroma comes through strong with some oak and vanilla. Salt water and alcohol. Appearance: Dark, dark brown in color with no highlights. Medium tan head was full and foamy with good retention. Good lacing. Flavor: Roasted malt with notes of bittersweet chocolate, coffee, caramel. Lots of peaty smokiness upfront and throughout. Barrel flavors are well done with oak, vanilla, and lightly toasted nuts. Fairly big alcohol kick for an 8% beer. Nice, smooth finish. Palate: Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Light alcohol warmth in back of mouth. Overall: I liked this a bit more than the 12. The peat really came through strong here, and the barrel flavors were a bit smoother. But, the mouthfeel still feels a little light for everything that’s going on. Pricey, but worth a try.
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