Light honey yellow color. Not very leggy; more specks. I do have to say this is a terrific bargain rye, and an outstanding mixer for bourbon cocktails. All told, it is a very "prickly" rye that will live in my cabinet from now on. The initial nose is a very heavy sourdough bread and yeast component. It almost reminds me of a wheated whiskey at first. As you dip your beak deeper into it, however, you get much more finished wood and seeded pumpernickel rye bread. There are traces of cinnamon spice, rock salt and white pepper as well, plus some sulfuric broccoli water. The front of the palate is dark rye bread, not surprisingly. It's pepper spices at first, then cinnamon spices mid-palate. Lots of herbal notes, and a black licorice/star anise bite, which always reminds me of fennel. A dry sawdust at the tail end that puts a nice button on the swallow. The finish is pumpernickel rye bread. There is a bit of black pepper and even red pepper heat. A finish of dark chocolate. Lacquered wood. Herbs and fennel.