Nose is "smooth", not sure how that works for a smell but it does, muted nose compared to the black but has honey and caramel there. VERY smooth, has a creamy feel, caramel taste, very little to no burn and super easy to drink. Comparing it to the black the flavors feel similar but a bit muted which probably contributes to why it's so smooth, they might just be slightly overshadowed by the black on a side by side. Very good, probably not worth the price premium but quite enjoyable. It's hard to believe it's 80 proof with how easy it is to drink.