Meneer de Uil (Auchentoshan BA)
Uiltje Brewing Company

Pours a pitch-black coloration with a tiny, fizzy head. Smells of roasted malt, chocolate, dark fruit, lighter red berries and hints of licorice and musty oak. Taste follows the nose, with a great balance of roasted malt, chocolate, dark fruit and lighter red berries, with notes of plum, fig and black/red currants, as well as some licorice, musty oak and just a hint of tobacco, peppery spice and vanilla. Finishes bittersweet, with a light bitterness and some roasted malt, chocolate, dark/red fruit, licorice and vanilla lingering in the aftertaste. Full mouthfeel with a rich body and light carbonation.

While this isn't all that peaty, that shouldn't come as a great surprise considering that Auchentoshan is a non-peated Lowland Single Malt Scotch, although hints of licorice and tobacco from the strong, roasted malts remain. While the barrel-character almost feels more Sherry-esque, which may also be due to light oxidation given the age of this, there are some vanilla accents to this as well, making me think that either the Dark or American Oak Auchentoshan barrels may have been used for here. Overall, while this doesn't feel like your typical Scotch barrel-aged Imperial Stout, Auchentoshan isn't your typical Single Malt Sotch either, with this feeling a lot more fruity than peaty, while the roasted malts really create a nice balance of sweet and bitter notes though, that complements the fruity and slighty spicy character of this very nicely. It really is a bit boozy though.