Nose - cherry, berry, Cap’n Crunch, licorice, clove, dill, salted caramel, cinnamon, peanut, vanilla, leather, tobacco, eucalyptus, apricot, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - prepared caramel, cherry, cinnamon bark, clove, leather, wine, red berry, sweet tobacco, dry vanilla, ginger, black pepper, cardamom, moderate to high alcohol bite, finishing fast and bitter with sour barrel char, cinnamon, and tannic leather flavors. Being the glutton for punishment that I am, I’ve decided to embark on another tasting series of a Total Wine house whiskey brand. After the Winchesters I endured, I have very low expectations for this brand. I’m pleasantly surprised by the nose. It’s reminiscent of a young MGP rye, with the dill, licorice, and clove aromas, but this is much sweeter and berrylicious. Along with some of the classic bourbon notes, cherry and peanut make a strong entrance. The palate arrival is the nicest piece of the experience. Immediate rich, salted caramel and cherry shock my tongue. Is there wheat in the mash bill? Yep, just confirmed it’s a four grain with wheat as a component. Strong cherry notes usually coincide with a nontrivial percentage of wheat in the mix for me. After the arrival, things head south. The flavors muddle and that familiar, hot youthful sourness appears, quickly ending not with a bang, but a sour, dry whimper. Overall, this is neither terrible nor particular exciting, just slightly above average for me. If the finish wasn’t so disappointing, I could find it in myself to even call this good. Tune in next time for my thoughts on their rye and wheater. All things considered, I’m pleasantly surprised so far.