The fiancé wanted me to make some whisky mules tonight - I am not a huge fan but indulged him since I was allowed to select the mixing whisky. Hey I will do almost anything to add another bottle to the collection even if its not top bill. I decided on this because it seems solid enough to stand on its own and mix with based on what I have read. That holds true! The other option was the basic Four Roses which I have had and enjoy but prefer my Four Roses to be a higher version. Still it was hard to decide between the two. Did I make the right choice? Let me know in comments what you would have selected between the two. While its not my go to sipping bourbon I do enjoy it neat or on ice. It is also good in his mules, and I think would be good in any mixed bourbon drink - its cheap enough to play around with as well. So here we go: Appearance: Golden Amber color, oily, leggy. Nose: Cola springs forward right out of the gate, with a slight vanilla waiting behind it. Then butterscotch, oak and cinnamon - red hots to be specific that linger in the background. Vanilla surprisingly peeks though shyly. I also get some notes of ginger and black pepper. Mouthfeel: Medium richness with a tingle on the tip of the tongue from the pepper and cinnamon. Slightly oily and mid level heat. Flavor: All of the notes in the nose are present but also included are soil, woods, and not just the oak but more of a forest sort of woody flavor, cinnamon but less candy red hot and more directly shaved cinnamon stick which is less forgiving and a bit more harsh, that ginger flavor creeps in which is what is tingly on the tongue with the black pepper lurking behind it peeking from behind a curtain of sweet from vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch but none of the sweet flavors are too strong nor knock out the peppery tingle. Now, none of these flavors be them sweet or heat or bitter or whatever are overshadowing each other. That is the magic here - its balanced very well. Finish: Smooth, isopropyl, earthy, milk chocolate, (oh there is that chocolate! I didn't think it was going to come forward! Only a tiny bit of heat - warming which is nice - not too hot. It has a gentle hug as others have said - I think that is the appropriate way to use the term. Let me know if not. Not outstanding by any means, it does not knock my socks off but I would drink this easily anytime if nothing better were offered. Certainly a solid mixing bourbon that would play well with most any mixed cocktail due to that it is not only affordable but it is heady enough to withstand mixers without being too cloying or too spicy or too anything that would cause mixers not to, well, mix, or I should say blend nicely. This is a bourbon that plays well with others. I am giving it a 4. Not because it is amazeballs or anything but because it does what it should and gives what was expected. Its not bad whatsoever and its nice to buy something inexpensive and get better than what I have paid three times as much for and hated. Okay I lied - I can't think of any bourbon I have paid for and actually hated but you know what I mean. And enjoyable it has been as I have helped to prep dinner (finance is a chef so I do very little - I am the mixologist) and talked to his kids for hours, and tired to do some work, etc and so on but ultimately I topped off my glencarin about four times. I think I can easily kill this bottle. I would be interested to let it breath a bit but since I grabbed a 750ml and the guy is into mules I doubt this will get time to take on air or age or whatever. So I will enjoy as is for as long as it lasts. My guess is through the weekend at best. So cheers! Hope everyone has a happy weekend!