Ola Dubh - 21 Year Old Special Reserve
Harviestoun in Alva, Clackmannanshire, Scotland 🏴
Traditional Beer - Old Ale Regular|
Score
7.53
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We make Ola Dubh 21 by taking our Old Engine Oil (amped up to 10.5%) and aging it for up to 6 months in casks that previously held Highland Park’s phenomenal 21 Year Old single malt whisky.
Ola Dubh (pronounced ‘ola-doo’ and Gaelic for ‘black oil’) was conceived in 2007. It was the first ale to be matured in whisky barrels from a named distillery and, with traceable casks and numbered bottles, it is a beer with real provenance.
This amazing brew has been aged in selected oak casks formerly used to mature Highland Park 21 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, adding complementary whisky notes to our chocolatey, bittersweet beer.
Ola Dubh 21 pours deep brown with a burgundy flush and a head the colour of milled oatmeal. On the nose it has gently-finessed top notes of fresh heather and honey, subtly toasted malts and vanilla with balancing hints of red fruits and a distant, beguiling smoke. The flavour has elegantly-subtle developing wine-like notes; from bitter chocolate and espresso beans into to a sustained, oaked conclusion. Extended, oaky finish with pine resin, juniper, perfumed honey and traces of peat.
Hops: East Kent Goldings, Fuggles, Galena
Malts: Lager Malt, Pinhead Oats, Roast Barley
Ola Dubh (pronounced ‘ola-doo’ and Gaelic for ‘black oil’) was conceived in 2007. It was the first ale to be matured in whisky barrels from a named distillery and, with traceable casks and numbered bottles, it is a beer with real provenance.
This amazing brew has been aged in selected oak casks formerly used to mature Highland Park 21 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, adding complementary whisky notes to our chocolatey, bittersweet beer.
Ola Dubh 21 pours deep brown with a burgundy flush and a head the colour of milled oatmeal. On the nose it has gently-finessed top notes of fresh heather and honey, subtly toasted malts and vanilla with balancing hints of red fruits and a distant, beguiling smoke. The flavour has elegantly-subtle developing wine-like notes; from bitter chocolate and espresso beans into to a sustained, oaked conclusion. Extended, oaky finish with pine resin, juniper, perfumed honey and traces of peat.
Hops: East Kent Goldings, Fuggles, Galena
Malts: Lager Malt, Pinhead Oats, Roast Barley
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7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle, 330 ml shared with Miro B and Max. Black with beige head. Chocolate, cocoa, some fruity notes, sweetish, some whiskey notes. Medium bodied.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Apr 2022
at 18:26
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle. pours inky black, small tan head, decent lacing. Aroma is whiskey, hint of smoke, molasses, dark roast, cocoa, dark bread. Flavor is medium sweet, light plus bitter. Full body, silky, low carbonation.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Nov 2019
at 03:41
7.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Brown bottle, 330 ml, botttle no 01513, bottled in April 2014, best before May 2017, drunk at L’autre œil, savoured on July 21 2018; eye: black, opaque, ring of beige head, no lacing; nose: anise, light whisky, slight peat, light roasted barley, chocolate, light alcohol; mouth: anise, light whisky, slight peat, light roasted barley, chocolate, light alcohol, finale in light peat with presence of alcohol, medium body, below-average carbonation, lightly sweet, lightly alcoholic texture; overall: fine
FRANÇAIS
Bouteille brune, 330 ml, bouteille no 01513, embouteillée en avril 2014, meilleure avant mai 2017, bue à L’autre œil, savourée le 21 juillet 2018; œil : noire, opaque, anneau de mousse beige, pas de dentelle; nez : anis, léger whisky, très léger tourbe, léger orge torréfiée, chocolat, léger alcool; bouche : anis, léger whisky, très léger tourbe, léger orge torréfiée, chocolat, léger alcool, finale en léger tourbe avec présence d’alcool, corps moyen, carbonatation sous la moyenne, légèrement sucrée, texture légèrement alcoolique; en résumé : bien
FRANÇAIS
Bouteille brune, 330 ml, bouteille no 01513, embouteillée en avril 2014, meilleure avant mai 2017, bue à L’autre œil, savourée le 21 juillet 2018; œil : noire, opaque, anneau de mousse beige, pas de dentelle; nez : anis, léger whisky, très léger tourbe, léger orge torréfiée, chocolat, léger alcool; bouche : anis, léger whisky, très léger tourbe, léger orge torréfiée, chocolat, léger alcool, finale en léger tourbe avec présence d’alcool, corps moyen, carbonatation sous la moyenne, légèrement sucrée, texture légèrement alcoolique; en résumé : bien
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Jul 2019
at 18:35
3/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 3
Flavor 3
Texture 2
Overall 3
Inköpt på Systembolaget för flera år sedan. Svart vätska med tunt skum. Doftar städskrubb med kemiska rengöringsmedel. Lätt rökt ton från whiskyfat. Torv. Rökig och lätt syrlighet i smaken. Blaskig eftersmak.
Tried
on 31 May 2019
at 18:34
6.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Coffee, licorice, cherry, whisky, oak, and char; not bad, but the thin texture and lax carbonation detract from what would be an otherwise delicious pint. Single-malt and smoke on the nose is nice. Should be better.
Tried
on 26 Dec 2018
at 02:16
6.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
0,33l bottle at home shared by Thomas, big thanks. black color, small tan head. Bottled 04 2014. smells of peat, earthy, spices, light ashy, wood, some dried fruit. nice smell. full body, light carbonation, slick mouthfeel. tastes earthy, peat, light oxidation, some ripe fruits, peppery, spices. finishes lightly dry with notes of peat, oxidation and peppery notes. decent one but also a bit weird. 7, 4, 7, 3, 13
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 May 2018
at 12:56
7.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Score: 8 / 4 / 7 / 3 / 15
330 ml bottle, no. 06364, bottled April 2014.
Black body, with a small, creamy, beige head.
Aroma of whisky, soy sauce, tobacco, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, vanilla, some dark fruits.
Tastes similar, with more tobacco.
Medium, slick mouthfeel, with a low carbonation.
Finishes dry, wooden, with tobacco, cocoa powder, whisky, some bitter chocolate.
Very nice. Dry and roasty, while quite smooth, especially the nose. Taste is a bit too dry, tobacco like for me maybe. Overall not my favourite Ola Dubh, but really interesting.
330 ml bottle, no. 06364, bottled April 2014.
Black body, with a small, creamy, beige head.
Aroma of whisky, soy sauce, tobacco, dark chocolate, cocoa powder, vanilla, some dark fruits.
Tastes similar, with more tobacco.
Medium, slick mouthfeel, with a low carbonation.
Finishes dry, wooden, with tobacco, cocoa powder, whisky, some bitter chocolate.
Very nice. Dry and roasty, while quite smooth, especially the nose. Taste is a bit too dry, tobacco like for me maybe. Overall not my favourite Ola Dubh, but really interesting.
Tried
from Bottle
on 30 Apr 2018
at 17:53
8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
0.33 l bottle from 'Ace Drinks', bottled in April 2014. Black with a thin, frothy, almost stable, light brown head. Sweetish-malty, slightly roasty aroma of milk chocolate, hazelnut, some coffee and a touch of vanilla. Quite sweet, malty, moderately roasty taste of milk chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla, coffee and quite a bit of whisky, followed by a medium long, moderately roasty-bitter, slightly earthy, quite peaty finish. Medium body, slightly creamy and moderately effervescent mouthfeel, soft carbonation. Pleasant, well-balanced, not too extreme.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Apr 2018
at 20:28
8.6/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 10
Texture 8
Overall 9.5
Bottle. Pours opaque black with tiny light brown head. Aroma is grain, soy sauce, gravy and rye bread. Taste is medium to very sweet, light bitter and light salty. Body is creamy with soft carbonation. Finish is long and intense with notes of malt, vanilla, rye, soy sauce, apricot jam, prunes, cream, roasted sesame seeds and hints of campfire smoke. Rich and will balanced.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Mar 2018
at 20:52
7.8/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
330ml bottle [#08541]. Quasi black colour with late awakening, small, frothy to creamy, osteoporosing, minimally lacing, beige to tan head. Chocolately, dark malty aroma, notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, toffee, a minimally woody and peaty-smoky touch, vinous hints of blue grapes. Taste is slightly dry woody, minimally sweet chocolately dark malty, hints of vanilla, a minimally vinous touch of blue grape juice, minimally smoky overtones; smooth and soft palate, very fine but effectual carbonation. Harmonious, integrated, round.
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Feb 2018
at 22:49