There is a bright fruitiness of apple and citrus and then brown sugar and creamy toffee before harsh baking spices kick in the back door and explode onto the scene with a hint of herbal notes on the backside. It starts out very pleasing and ends on a harsh note leaving you with the feeling that you just had a door slammed in your face. That might be why so many people use it as a mixer. But honestly, there are tastier cheaper bourbons to use as mixers.