Sample #7 of 9 Backstory: I participated in a Distiller W.O.W. (whiskies of the world) Zoom call having received 10 drams of different whiskies, actually 9 as they snuck one rum in with the mix. See my review on Diplomatico Reserva. I am so glad to have been introduced to a rum that put my love of bourbon to the test! This tasting event was a gift for my finance for his 50th so I got each of us a sample box and we joined in the Zoom call together one evening. It was a blast and I am glad we had two boxes as by the time we got to the last few drams my tasting notes got a little suspect as I had a pretty good buzz going! Plus, even with clearing my palette, and sniffing on coffee beans I am sure that my tasting was not as great as it was on those first few drams. We were smart to just share in the first box and save the second back for tasting over a period of a week just to be sure our notes were correct. Review: Appearance: Honey Blonde color Nose: Clean, fresh, orchard, peach, lemon, babbling brook Mouthfeel: Medium full Flavor: POW! SPICE! Spice mellows to a musty funk, sweet vanilla smoke, molasses. Finish: Lingering and spicy. Conclusion: Its a meandering ride of spice and sweet. A ride you don't necessarily want to end but you are okay when it does. After the hits to the gut with strong spices you do get a sweetness that comes through but it seems almost like it is being forced on you to make up for the heavy hit of spice. The sweetness, is the saving grace, but is it? I can't decide. Reminds me of the commercial for those candies, first sour then sweet. Only in this case it is first spicy then sweet. Either way those commercials are annoying and I want to punch the sour punch "kids" in the face. Its not horrid but it is confusing and I wanted to really really love this one. Rating 2: Would drink at a pub with limited selection or a friends house if they served it but will not seek it out again.