Good bourbon, but not an every day whiskey. Oily; strong nose of burnt oak, peppercorn, and sweet ethanol. Palate is Spicy and earthy with hits of vanilla, angostura and orange bitters; not at all sweet, in fact it one could say it is a dry whiskey. Smooth finish with no burn, unlike one would expect at 100 proof. This whiskey does not have a super interesting or long development, but rather welcomes you into its warm and full embrace all at once. However, it is lacking in complexity. Excellent sipping whiskey for those who enjoy bold spirits and would also serve well in many cocktails, especially an old fashioned. For the marginal increase in price, the 9 year is most certainly a step up form regular knob creek.