Barrel pick by NC ABC Open 8 months Nose - Spicy honey, butterscotch, golden raisins, brandy, hints of chalk and brine, medium ethanol. Palate - Light honey and vanilla up front, strong mead with a hint of brandy, sweet grain, artificial cherry, honey-roasted peanuts. Medium finish that disappears quicker than expected, dry oak comes out, spicy and ethanolic with hints of honey. My experience with Crown Royal has been tepid at best, but a $50 "single barrel" at 103 proof was too intriguing to pass up. Considering how pricey and low proof Crown Royal products are, the pricing on this is befuddling but obviously welcome. This is surprisingly good, but I've had it for 8 months so it's not something I reach for consistently. It honestly reminds me of a Highland malt finished in mead and brandy casks. The closest comparison at the moment is either a 15% mead spiked with brandy, or the excellent John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend. If that sounds appealing I say go for it, the value is pretty good with this one. An additional note, this is a fantastic bottle in presentation and build quality. I love the rugged screw cap, definitely a keeper to reuse. Why can't more companies use burly screw caps like this and Japanese whiskey bottles?