I missed out on one of these recently but thankfully a friend nabbed one. I wasn’t disappointed until we poured this. It was just below the neck but so much better developed than my bottle that’s been open 2 years. The aroma of brown, dried tobacco and vanilla come readily to the nose. Some peaches in syrup are there as well as freshly sawed oak. It’s a nice mix of bright and earthy. Thin body but no heat for 100 proof. The oak and vanilla hit the front, tobacco, allspice and possibly cacao nibs on the sides and back and then light butterscotch and peach cobbler before a medium salted caramel and fruity finish balanced with wood notes. What I don’t get are the cola notes from EHT barrel proof or the strong cherry and cinnamon notes from Stagg Jr. Finish is understandably much shorter given the proof difference. It’s mashbill #1 all right but not a big boy. I would take this over Elmer T Lee or Blanton’s any day (just not as much of a mashbill #2 fan). I’ve heard of some single barrels being less than stellar but this outshines the small batches I’ve tried - more wood notes and richer vanilla. Honestly a notch above Eagle Rare and clearly share the same DNA. Would gladly pay $50-60 but flippers gonna flip. Don’t be fooled - if Eagle Rare or EHT small batch ever show up at MSRP grab one and know that you’re not missing that much.