Nose: Can definitely tell this is a high rye mash bill - slightly vegetal and herbal alongside star anise, nutmeg, and a touch of clove. Under-ripe orange peels. Bitter chocolate. Some brown sugar and vanilla, though these are a little more subtle than you'd expect from most bourbons. Oak threads through in a much more "integrated" manner than I tend to experience with bourbons. Also a classic dusty corn note after the glass opens a little. Palate: Splashes of orange, mint, bitter oak, and black pepper. The way the vanilla sweetness mingles with those baking spices is interesting. More cinnamon on the palate than the nose. The tannins here are quite nice, giving some texture and bitterness that contrasts nicely. Floral and more bitter citrus peels. Salted caramel. Same experience here with the oak, and without that base layer this seems "top-heavy", though this falls directly in line with the Bulleit profile. Medium mouthfeel. Finish: Oak and ethanol, along with some char. All the baking spices and herbs from before. Cocoa, leather, and cedar slowly show up, and the outro is a medium-long balance between orange, mint, chocolate, and wood. Other notes: I'm not generally a fan of Bulleit. Save for their barrel strength, I just don't find myself ever seeking it out. And while this is comfortably in that general profile, I have to hand it to them: this is very well executed. This is not the most insanely complex or rich thing ever, but instead is a great example in the exercise of restraint, as well as knowing when to do something a little different. This is bold stuff, no doubt, but not bold in the same vein as, say, Stagg Jr. or anything coming out of Balcones. It's more bold in that it leans into a slightly less traditional set of flavors while still comfortably being a bourbon. Comendable stuff. Knowing that this is batch 1, it's very likely I'll at least try glasses of subsequent batches. Maybe even seek out full bottles. If you're a fan of Bulleit, I strongly recommend this. And if you aren't a fan, or just haven't picked up one of their distinctively-shaped-and-labeled bottles in a while, give this one a crack. It may not necessarily be in my top 10 whiskeys of the year, it's certainly worth your time and attention.