Assessed in a Glencairn spirits nosing glass Aroma - Neat - Dry sawdust, musty grape, earthy dirt and root scents and chalk. Not too terribly appealing. Adding a splash of water . . . Not a ton of transformation here, mainly just softened aromas of the aforementioned. Taste - Neat - Quite hot and nostril-burning. Very strong and dry wine characteristics, quite astringent and bitter. Adding a splash of water . . . A lot of the complexity, albeit not the most pleasant of complexities, is lost. Primarily now just picking up vanilla and honey, perhaps some fruit basket. Final thoughts - Very disappointing at best and quite off-putting at worst. There are some very powerful, savory aromas and flavors at play here, but unfortunately they aren’t great ones. The overall impression I’m getting here is some very young and rough whiskey that was aged for a short time with the Amontillado staves. It feels like a rushed cash grab. I’d purchased this whiskey on impulse because I’m a big Edgar Allen Poe fan, liked the tribute and was suckered in by the artwork. Unfortunately, the artwork is about the only thing great here. Not recommended.