Pours deep cola into a tulip. Tan head with medium retention recedes to skim surface. Hot vanilla, molasses and bourbon aromas. Thick with toasted brown bread, raisins, molasses, bourbon and vanilla upfront turning to dry, warming earthy oak in the lasting finish.

2020 12oz can listed at a merciful 9.5%. Pours a murky brown with some off white head. Nose has what you expect, malt, caramel, booze, some witchhazel, heavy wood. Flavor has caramel and butterscotch, thick booze, cheap whiskey like Jamey or Basil Hayden, sumac and witchhazel, malt. Finishes full bodied and a little astringent.

Can split at L6, thanks to LKS, 16/01/20. Extremely dark mahogany brown with a decent beige head. Nose is sweet malts, caramel, dried fruits, figs, toffee. Taste comprises dates, hint of coconut off the bourbon, light spice, brown sugar melt, figs, dried fruit rinds. Full bodied, fine carbonation, drying close with a kiss of bourbon and a balanced boost. Ok sipper … maybe past its best (2016 vintage).

Can shared at the Columbus tasting 16/01/2020. Many thanks to Leighton. A light hazed nutty brown coloured pour with a halo of tan head., Aroma is semi sweet, nutty, hazelnut, brown sugars, apricot ja,, Flavour is composed of semi sweet, vanilla, hot alcohol , paint, white vinous, vanilla. Little harsh.

Can shared in London - think a family member gifted me this one. Vintage 2016. Pours lightly muddied amber-brown with a bubbly, tan head. Moderately rich, not overly sweet, some toasted toffee, brown bread, mellow earthy hops, alcohol, vanilla. Full bodied, lightly oily and chewy, with fine carbonation. Warming finish, notes of old wood, toasted malts, burnt caramel, a scattering of dried berries. Really solid overall.

16th January 2020
Can. Thanks to LKS. Semi opaque amber brown beer, small pale tan head. Smooth and semi dry palate, mildly dry; decent fine carbonation. Smooth malts, a little creamy sweetness. Smooth bourbon, ripe fruity bourbon. Very mild spice. Smooth light dry finish.

(2017 Edition) Can pour into tulip glass from The City, Plaistow. Appearance is cloudy dark brown (like really muddy river water, but not in a bad way) with fair amount of light floaties, nice sparkle at the edges of the glass, finger-width beige head with poor retention and trace lacing. Aroma is strong bourbon over sweet caramel malt. Taste is first half bourbon, 2nd half more caramel sweet with raisin/dark fruit and hints of chocolate and coconut (improves as it warms), with return of bourbon at the finish. Palate is medium bodied with thin texture, average-to-lively carbonation, pleasant alcohol warmth and bourbon dominant finish. Overall, not very complex as there are just two aromas/flavors here, but they work together pretty well. At first, I thought the bourbon might be a little strong, but it kind of needs to be as a balance to the underlying barleywine and prevents it from being overly sweet.