Appearance: Very dark brown, near black. Nice, dark tan head. Aroma: Dark malt, very roasted, coffee. Taste: Dark malt, heavily roasted, coffee notes. Hides alcohol very well, very smooth. Bought: Craft Gallery, 355 ml, CHF 10.50 Info: 15/7-2020, BB: ??/??-????

Botella de @Labirratorium, Madrid (Online) 23/04/2020 Color marrón corona de espuma blanca beige claro escasa, aromas caramelo, dulce, ligeras notas cacao, sabor sabor dulce, maltosa, cuerpo sedoso. Rica.

The bourbon barrel aged variant of Scotty Karate, the regular Scotch (or 'wee heavy') from this relative 'oldtimer' (1997) in U.S. craft brewing; released in 2016 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the regular version, which I apparently never had. Pale greyish off-white, dense but thinnish, mousy 'ring' for a head with a flat greyish 'veil' in the middle, misty deep chocolate brown robe with warm vermillion red glow. Quite intense and alluring bouquet of cocoa powder, Belgian chocolates, caramel sauce, sweet bourbon, chestnut sauce, old tawny port, vanilla-scenting oak wood, brown rum, marzipan, nougat, candied cranberries, very old brown honey, dried figs, cinnamon, quince jam, oxidized madera, soggy toast, dust, sugared tea. Sweet onset, lots of dried and candied fruit, varying between figs, dates, raisins and prunes but also a vague apple-ish touch, with a slight sourish edge, medium carbonated with some minerally 'stings' that do not distract; full, slick body, feeling lighter than its ABV actually, deeply caramelly and toffeeish with (milk-)chocolatey tail as well as a nice brown-breadiness, sprinkled with cinnamon, coffee powder and ground cloves - though these spicy aspects remain 'virtual'. The finish adds a nice roasty coffee touch (which - as befits a Scotch - nevertheless remains very subtle) along with only a mild tannic woodiness, yet still emitting this typical vanilla-like scent of oak wood retronasally. Meanwhile, alcohol warmth, obviously strongly sweet bourbon-coloured, builds up, yet manages to never become overly dominant or sharp; the finish thus proceeds with gentle warmth, lots of lingering cocoa- and coffee powder aromatics and a smooth, pleasantly caramelly maltiness with only a slight hint of faraway herbal hop bitterishness (which does, importantly, still releases a marmalade-like citrus effect retronasally). Oxidation is obvious enough, like an old bottle of sweet sherry, even with a slightly 'rusty' accent, but generally speaking, it has restrained itself to a 'friendly' and elegant maderisation. I am not sure how old my sample is, it is not indicated anywhere on bottle, label or crown cap, but assuming this celebrational version was only made once in 2016 (and I do not see any more recent ratings here so I have every reason to believe my bottle is indeed four years old), I cannot but conclude that it has aged gracefully, with any sharp corners of booze or solventy effects being shaved off, revealing the malty-sweet, heartily warming essence of this creation. Thoroughly American interpretation of a Scotch, of course, but the bourbon approach may indeed have made the basic beer more complex, as it ought to be - I have yet to find and sample that basic beer, though... This drinking experience sure motivated me to track down the regular Scotty Karate!