The nose has an interesting mix of dusty old barn oak with sweet peppercorns and some dark maple syrup aroma rising up through it. Some herbal aspects, anise maybe, I can't put my finger on, and dark red fruit or currant, it's delicious and something about it is very familiar. The front is loaded with the dark sugars, maple, caramel vanilla, they are all there, mid way through we get that peppercorn heat, just bordering on a redhot cinnamon but not quite crossing over. The finish is roasted almond, with black pepper, feint vanilla caramel sugars can be detected but yet it's a dry finish. This is extremely well executed bourbon. This has a mature finish quality that doesn't waver, it just keeps on keepin on for days. I know I've had this before. There is a lot of speculation as to what this is, after all a 15 year Kentucky barrel is not something being bandied about these days. I don't get enough peanut shell or sour mash for this to be Beam, and not enough of the really rich fruit sugars to be Barton. Nothing from Sazarac, nor Four Roses, there aren't a lot of choices left. If I had to bet, I'd say this is Heaven Hill and specifically out of the Old Fitz warehouse. So is it great bourbon? Absolutely, as for the value.. and that said, an Old Fitz and less than 10 dollars a year, you do the math. Cheers!