Keg at PSBH, 9th August 2012. Served in a Hardknott Brandy style glass, Jet black, nice aroma, you get chocolate, leather and liquorice, palate is perfect, taste is smooth and classy, deep and intense.

Bottle from The Beer Hive, Edinburgh [020214] (2013 bottle) 8/4/8/4/17
Pitch black, big frothy head, good lacing
Aroma of rich deep dark malts, woody, soy, hint of whisky, bit tarry, quite vinous
Taste of rich dark malts, woody, dark stone fruits, dark chocolate, soft whisky, soft alcohol, deep mellow roast, dab of molasses, some earthy malts, bitter hops, complex
Palate - soft carb, full body, soft alcohol, quite sweet. Finish of rich dark malts, smooth, quite dry, warming alcohol
Overall - yum yum, considerably less boozy than I remember before. Up to 4.1

Keg @ Stockbridge Tap, 140712 8/3/8/4/17
Black, thin ruby edges, thin tan head, no lacing
Aroma - soft dark chocolate malts, rich dark malts, some whisky is noticeable but not overdone, everything mellow, some alcohol
Taste as aroma, seems more boozy now, rich dark fruity malts, mellow dark chocolate, dark fruits, hint of whisky, soft complex roast malts, some soft bitter spicy hops come through, I am getting more booze than normal BL
Palate - soft carb. full body, smooth. Finish as main flavour, quite dry, warming alcohol.
Overall - I’m impressed with the barrel aging here - it isn’t overblown with whisky. It does seem rather more boozy though. I was really looking forward to this beer - it’s really very good but it just didn’t have anywhere near the same impact on me as the original -- I personally prefer the normal version (which scored 4.4)

Keg at Craft Beer Co. It pours jet black, with a thin light tan head. The nose is charcoal, smoke, bitter chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, marshmallow and toast. The taste is roasted malt, charcoal, treacle, oak, bourbon, touch of vanilla, alcohol warmth, toast, coffee, tar, spice, dark fruit, raspberry, bitter chocolate and marshmallow, with a very dry, warming finish. Full body and fine carbonation. Lots going on. A flavoursome and well-crafted imperial stout.

30th June 2012
Keg at the Craft. Opaque black - brown beer, small pale tan head. Smooth semi soft palate. Very mild fine carbonation. Nice dark malts rich and smooth with subtle coffee. Not so subtle red fruits - nice. A little cream before smooth mild bourbon with a little attendant spice. The base beer I thought had some rough edges but the barrelling has smoothed things off beautifully. Just a little booze in the very finish.

30th October 2018
Six years on - only the lightest trace of oxidisation. The dark malts are thin and have decent dark chocolate. Bourbon still there, a little fruity. A distinct savoury vibe runs over everything. Light dry finish. Yeah - aging hasn't ruined this but it's quite savoury now. 3.5

Draft courtesy of Stuart, thank you sir! Murky brown color, thick but small brown head. Aroma of vanilla, subtle whiskey, chocolate. Taste is rich coffee, vanilla, dark winter fruits. The bourbon doesnt overwhelm, allowing the beer characteristics to shine through. Very nice.