Mikkeller Black (Islay Edition)

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

this one is a little much. even when they did the black hole (black hole being far more drinkable than black) they overdid the scotch. they're at it again woth this one, and at 17% the charred stout and intense smoke = low drinkability. i'd enjoy a sampler of this, but not a bottle. a good idea taken to the extreme. for mikkeller, this one's a miss.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 5

375 ml green bottle (no blue wax, but clearly labeled Islay Edition), courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 17.5%. Pitch black colour, minimal brown head. Strong aroma of smoke, tar, salt water, iodine and roasted barley. Extremely sweet and roasty flavour with notes of peat smoke and molasses. Too extreme for me.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 9

Thick oily black with nothing for a cap just a few sad small bubbles floating on top. Aroma is so very smoky and sweet, the peaty scotch really comes through. Is that raspberry I smell??? Can’t be. I can’t believe that at 17.5% I can only smell a hint of alcohol. So very sweet with a intense smoke. Just like the aroma the alcohol is almost completely hidden but wow is my stomach ever warming up. Flavor is just a big peaty, burnt brown sugar, smoke bomb with hints of berry. This flavor is so thick you can chew it. Way too sweet to drink often but it’s great to sip on during a cold winter night while knitting socks for your kitten.