It’s aged in sweet dark rum barrels from the jungles of Nicaragua; loaded with deep and smoky New Mexican ancho chiles; spiced up with a wicked trifecta of cinnamon, fresh serrano peppers, and cayenne, AND cocoa, AND vanilla.  All hail the 4.26 rated on UT, 13.5% ABV Great Commander Imperial Stout!

Straight from the Stout geniuses of Virginia’s Lickinghole Creek, creators of 3 of Virginia’s Top Imperial Stouts on BA, Great Commander spares no expense to bring this Mexican Hot Cocoa richness into barrel-aged form.

Picture Perennial’s Abraxas drunk on a rum cruise of the Caribbean, and you have an idea of Great Commander’s boozy prowess.  Fresh chopped serrano peppers, cocoa, and toasted cinnamon aromas take you into visions of homemade mole sauce. Brown sugary essences of Central American rum slide into flavortown with a touch of heat.  The anchos add depth, joining the spice train of cinnamon and serranos for a lingering heat. Vanilla sweetens the deal, if only a touch, keeping this 13.5% ABV beast as smooth as can be.

Sipping Great Commander is a great introduction to Lickinghole’s top-rated Stout porftolio.  We’re lucky to have gotten a select stash of its powerful flavors, limited to only 120 cases in existence.  Once you taste it, get ready to take an action-packed flavor tour of the world like a boozed up James Bond.

Rated 4.26 on Untappd