This was the first whiskey I enjoyed sipping neat. Love that this is a local North Carolina product. Instead of inventing some cockamamie backstory and sourcing some whiskey from a mega distiller, they worked to produce an honest, quality product. Malty sweetness with oak and hints of tobacco and leather on the nose. Enters the palate with a mild sweetness that hangs around in the background through the finish. Mid-palate is my favorite part of Defiant. A wonderful Old leather and smoke combination. Limited burn on the finish. On the rocks, the sweetness takes center stage relegating the smoke and leather to a supporting role. This product has perfected the "chipping" or "insertion" method for quick aging.