This is my first Stranahan foray. I have heard some mixed reviews, but decided to give it a try since the solera process is intriguing. Let's see how it drinks. Nose is definitely not traditional American whiskey. You can pick up the heavy malt and there is no ethanol to speak of. Maybe a hint of the fruitiness of a Speyside Scotch. First sip is quite interesting. I'm just going to say this at the risk of sounding off, but this is like tiramisu in a glass. There are some light almond notes on the front followed by a rather pronounced mocha coffee finish. It took me a few sips to come to this conclusion, but honestly this is where I am at with this one. There is relatively little burn and the mocha finish fades nicely if just a touch to soon. Overall this one is surprising. Maybe it's the American malt or the specialized aging process, but it definitely brings something different to the party. At $45 I highly recommend this one as a pick up if for no other reason than to expand your palate to something off the beaten path. Not sure I will grab another when this is gone, but glad I took the chance. For the price I am giving this an extra quarter point bump up.