One of the two versions of Uiltje’s Imperial Blablabla (the funny name referring to the exaggerated usage of the term ’imperial’ these days), aged on Bunnahabhain barrels, an Islay whisky hitherto unknown to me. Bottle of sixteen months old. Creamy, milky, yellowish beige, densely packed but dissipating and eventually vanishing head except from a thin tan rim, dark brownish bronze colour with purple hue, darker than average for a barley wine. Rich and pungent bouquet of Belgian chocolates, single malt whisky, old furniture, vanilla, toffee, kahlua, fudge, nectarine, sweet sherry, black pepper, pear brandy, candied fig, chestnut liqueur, raisin, blackberry, honey. Intense flavor stretched over a long parcours, kicking off with candied sweetness of fig and raisin but nothing cloying, balanced with basic elderberry-like sourishness and subtle meaty umami accents, softish carbo fit for the style, thick layers of toffeeish, caramelly and nutty malt sweetness quickly gaining a chocolatey edge, spicy accents here and there while the fruit sweetness and sourishness continue; vinous and oily but still supple mouthfeel, even thinner body than expected for a beer of this strength. Finish is dominated by caramelly and chocolatey malt sweetness while the whisky effect adds a whole dimension to it, with notable but soft whisky flavor, woody tannins adding dryness and retronasal vanilla- and furniture-like oak effects; earthy hops provide some spicy bitterness but gently so, the balance against the initial sweetness is primarily achieved by the barrel ageing. Alcohol is evidently very pronounced, but like in a good single malt, does not burn agressively: instead it adds a lot of gentle warmth from the middle onwards and if anything, provides even extra flavor. Another great one from ’t Uiltje, luxurious heart-warming sipper, probably better fit for a chilly winter evening than a hot summer day like today, but a joy to slowly savor. In comparison with the Auchroisk version, though, it seems to be a bit less intense, a bit lighter on the tongue and a tad less complex.

Botella. @V Cata Ratebeer Asturias. 07/01/16. BBD: 27/03/15 Color marron oscuro, sabor dulce caramelo, licor, cuerpo alto

Dark ruby pour, almost opaque, with a nice but small creamy tan head with decent retention. Smells of whiskey barrel, dark cherries, some vanilla and cocoa. The taste is OK, but not as good as the Auchroisk version. Sweet caramel and maple syrup, some bourbon and oak, vanilla, cocoa, coffee and dark chocolate and cherries. Smooth texture, full bodied and with a sweet and hot afterteste.

33cl bottle, courtesy of sebletitje, pours with an amber colored body that supports a thin tan head. The aroma offers up molasses sweetened spicy oak and raisin nuanced bourbon flowing into some vanilla and sherry like fruitiness. Pretty nice. The taste is similar as sweet sherry and raisin notes meet up with some spicy oak and thin sweet vanilla. To midway it picks up bourbon like barrel booze with some nectar sweet molasses off in the background. The barrel character tries to crush the beer notes but does not fully succeed.