Chestnut brown/dark caramel color. A thick crown surrounds the side of the glass when you take it for a walk. I recommend letting this one sit in the Glencairn for about 10 minutes before you first sip. The nose is first peanut and sawdust; it's a dry, dusty aroma. A little bit of classroom paste. The wood aromas are smoothed out and not spicy. (Is that the what French Oak does?) Sugary toffee and molasses, with just a hint of cherry. The fumes make me a little light headed. The first sip is dry and nutty. It's hard to tell where the peanut dust begins and barrel spice ends. Sweeter flavors enter in the second wave: cherry, vanilla, butter, coffee creamer and caramel. There is a prickly, yeasty flavor that I am assuming comes from the high wheat component, but a n00b like me can never be sure. There is a very distinct wood char at the swallow: toasted and tannic. The heat and those tannins remain on the lips and burn for a bit. The finish is dry, lacquered wood and tobacco, like a cigar recently-removed. Black licorice, cinnamon, and a significant barrel char that comes off like burnt oak. A chocolate orange. This one is a terrific value that brings complexity and a lot of really harmonious flavors that go equally well neat or on ice.