Dark amber Nose: ethanol and cherries First sip: Cherries, caramel, smoky vanilla. Sweet. Easy- very little burn. After sitting: not much change. Maybe a little more cinnamon spice on the back end. With water: nose becomes heavy vanilla, and ethanol disappears. Notes of black pepper, black tea and oak with a slight floral quality appear. I thought water would ruin it because it’s not spicy to begin with, but it opens up a whole new set of notes. Less sweet with water. Medium finish with slight toffee notes. For $35, this drinks like a much more expensive, older bourbon. A steal at this price point. A good everyday sipper. If you like spicier high ABV bourbons, you might find this one a little weak- but I feel like it has just enough spice without overwhelming you with burn.