The first thing you get from the aroma is a wonderful bourbon barrel scent of vanilla and wood finished with nice malt sweetness. I didn't get any hop or roasted malt aromas in the nose, possibly because they were overwhelmed by the bourbon barrel a bit. The beer was pitch black with nice carbonation as tiny tight bubbles left lacing that lingered on the glass. The beer was well balanced between the roasted malts and bittering hops and they complemented one another nicely. The flavor of the beer had a very nice wine-like sweetness with hints of raisins and dark chocolate. The alchohol (from the bourbon barrels) was definitely present in this beer, resulting in a nice, mellow, smooth burn that gives it a wide spectrum of aromas and flavors. Overall, this is a balanced Imperial Stout with a smooth mouthfeel and a sweet alcoholic burn in the finish.