I'm hunting for those chocolate truffles but I'm not really finding them. Yes on the vanilla and oak/rickhouse on the nose. Sort of harsh/bitter on my palate. That must be what is identified as the 'spicy' characteristic or even the dark chocolate. Not a great sipper for me but I'll let it sit and open up for a while and check back in. It did make a good old fashioned though, with holiday spice simple syrup, smoked cherry bitters and Luxardo.