Nose: cherry coke First sip: Spicy. Mouth-drying oak. Heavy vanilla and black tea. An herbal quality comes in on the finish. Not super sweet. With water: Not much change, except a bit of a soapy note is added. Water tones down the spiciness, which makes it more pleasant for me. Finish: long and vanilla. It’s surprisingly spicy for its age and proof. I like it better with water, but I probably wouldn’t buy again.