I struggle with Van Winkle 12 year. I know its a very special and pricey bottle of Bourbon, and difficult to find these days. I hear so many good things about Van Winkle of all vintages. But after trying this as part of a very expensive whiskey flight, I just can't seem to wrap my head around this Bourbon. Don't get me wrong: Van Winkle 12 year is great. But nothing about this Bourbon stood out as unique or different. It was a very straightforward bourbon. Not overly sweet, a little spicy and goes down smooth. But around Southern California, you'd have to shell out over $1,000 for a bottle and I just can't imagine paying that much for a bottle of this stuff. On its own merits, Van Winkle 12 year tastes like distilled essence of good Bourbon. It fits well with an experienced and discerning Bourbon drinker's palate, but first timers would struggle to find the difference between this and much less expensive Bourbons. In the end, worth a pour if you happen to see this on a whiskey menu at a restaurant but not really worth the incredible price this commands to purchase a bottle.