So, sniffing this I could easily confuse it with a Sam Houston or another variation of 13-15yo Barton. There are tons of tannic oak notes, vanilla and overripe banana. So much of the aroma is bourbon territory. At best there is a drop fried plantain and kerosene that makes me think “hogo.” Regardless, this is interesting. If I fish for it there could be some clove and nutmeg as well as a bit of leather. Vanilla, brown sugar, fried plantains and oak but without being cloying. Wow. Medium mouthfeel. Finish full of sun dried tobacco, Madagascar vanilla pod and oak. Some of the oily fried plantain is in there as well to remind me this isn’t bourbon - but it’s damn close. Here’s the kicker - Sam Houston 14 was around $125 and honesty not as enjoyable as this for my own palate. This is just sweeter and less tannic with softer edges. The kicker is that I paid $25 for this. What a fool I am. If this was just a tad spicier I would kick this to a 4.5 but because I’m in denial and this isn’t perfect I’ll say 4.0 but in ways, per my own scale, this could be a 5 in that it is absolutely eye opening for me. I legitimately might tell a few friends this is bourbon and see what happens…