Treacle and chocolate, a bit fruity and slightly metallic. After the first few sips it smooths right out and is an easy drinking sipper with minimal carbonation and not much body, given its ABV. Bitterness is there but not pronounced. Earthy ending.

I enjoyed this and appreciate the complexity but it was rather robust and ‘in yer face!’. Bitter cherries lie in the background with waves of acetobacter at the forefront. Flavour profile blends between red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar, just on the hairy edge of palatability at times!

I enjoyed this but it was overly sweet, too much for me. And this distracted from the enjoyment and I presume masked some of the subtleties of the beer. Vanilla leaning towards caramel. Hints of oak, and a wall of sweetness!

I’ve had a few imperial stouts aged in whisky barrels however I’ve never really had much joy with them. What I enjoy in a single malt (peaty) I don’t think transfers well to an imperial stout. This one however is really good. I really must pay closer attention to the kind of single malt barrel being used in future! It’s incredibly smooth. Chocolate flavours from the stout and a delicate caramel sweetness. Earthy metallic notes, leather and gentle, sweet tobacco come through too. Far too easy drinking, 375ml came and went too fast.