This is just not a good whiskey. Before trying it, I read the label: Aged less than 2 years. At that point I had an idea what I was jumping into. The smell is very offputting. It’s a cross between an industrial chemical and a hint of cognac. If you get your nose too close it stings quite a bit. Upon taking a sip, it’s brutal. It’s very harsh. There are notes of what the whiskey would LIKE to become (cognac, the rye sweetness, almost even a black licorice) but the harshness overpowers it all. This is just a young whiskey and unfortunately with the cognac finish, I don’t even think it would mix well. The most rewarding character this has after multiple tastings is the aftertaste. It leaves a refreshingly sweet aftertaste once you’ve suffered through the whiskey. Since my main complaint was how harsh it was I did try a few drops of water which did help a bit. You can really taste the barrel after that. It still doesn’t taste what I’d call “good” but it becomes much more bearable. Leave this one on the shelf.