Two notes: I usually despise the traditional 100 point rating system, and was very pleased to see Drink Distiller go with a 5-star format. Unfortunately, sometimes the expanded room for rating would be prudent, and this is one of those instances. It's better than 80% (4 out of 5), but it's certainly not perfect. If I had a 10-point scale it would be a solid 9. Unfortunately, the scale requires me to leave it the same as it's much less-smooth brother, the 8-yr aged Double Black. Rest assured...this whisky is a helluva lot better than the Double Black. Point 2: This whisky changes flavors significantly based on glass type. The Glencairn shows a lot more on the nose, but also washes out the aroma with alcohol burn. Taste is similar, with the Glencairn amplifying that which is found in a traditional rocks glass while bringing forward a lot more wood and char. I much prefer this from a square rocks glass, but in the name of consistency, this review is from a Glencairn glass. The nose is rich with toffee, vanilla and oak. After sitting for 5 minutes, it opens up a little and you can detect a bit of mint as well. The palate is rich and creamy, with vanilla leading the charge. Molasses and brown sugar follow right behind before a swift kick of wood and spice finish things up. The finish is drying, with more wood and a hint of smoke before the astringency leaves a polite numbness on your lips and gums. This is a great bourbon at most any reasonable price, and for $40-odd a fifth, it's exceptional. If you haven't tried it yet, do yourself a favor and grab a bottle. Or three.