750 ml bottle into snifter, no bottle dating. Pours hazy dark ruby red color with a 1 finger dense light khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass. Aromas of huge raisin, prune, fig, pear, date, apple, caramel, toast, toffee, brown sugar, light chocolate, oak, light clove, red wine, herbal, and yeast earthiness. Fantastic aromas with big complexity of dark fruity notes with good malt balance; and great strength. Taste of big raisin, prune, fig, pear, date, apple, caramel, toast, brown sugar, toffee, light chocolate, clove, oak, red wine, herbal, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of dark fruits, pear, apple, caramel, toast, brown sugar, light chocolate, oak, clove, and light red wine on the finish for a good bit. Damn nice balance and complexity of dark fruit and malt flavors with moderate wine barrel presence; with a great malt/fruity balance and zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a moderately creamy and lightly slick mouthfeel that is good. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent scotch ale! All around great complexity and balance of dark fruit and malt flavors; and very smooth to sip on for the ABV. A highly enjoyable offering.

Bottle courtesy of sebletitje, the 75cl bottle pours with a clear amber body and copper hues supporting a thin tan head of foam. The aroma offers up a thin ribbon of caramel, prunes, cherries and dates as well as a faint sweet vanilla like note. The taste begins with sweet dark fruity esters like prunes and dates and cherries and then picks up a bit of caramel. Midway and into the finish a light vanilla note is noticed as brown sugar coated juicy ripe plums help take this into the finish along with a mild booziness. Solid stuff. The barrel contact time is solid as it adds to the experience rather than wipes it out like so many other barrel aged brews seem to do.