Nose - cherry, butterscotch, pecan, mint, corn, black pepper, vanilla, apple, cinnamon, clove, grass, prickly oak, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - mint, apple, cherry, caramel, vanilla, corn, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, grape, ginger, walnut, almond, moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium short with earthy mint, caramel, black pepper, and spicy oak flavors. As this is the companion to the standard Ensign Red, I’m doing these reviews head-to-head. Generally, I think the Black is richer, spicier, and hotter than the other. The oak is definitely more present as well. However, the same issues are found here. It’s young, hot, and too sweet. However, I’d still much rather drink this than most other Canadians I’ve tried, particularly the Crown Royal Black, which is horrifying. Overall, I like this a bit more than the standard offering, but not enough to bump it up a notch. This is still below average, but totally drinkable if you have low expectations.