Big, bold nose. Rich and thick with dark fruits. Some assertive wood, almost sawdusty, with a hint of smoke in the background. The palate is quite aggressive, quite shocking at first. Syrupy fruit, like a mouthful of mixed berry jam, then moves into the heavy oaky flavors with a good bit of bitterness, especially going into and through the finish. The high ABV is felt, but not overly so. It seems mostly to deliver a very full-flavored experience. Now I’ve consumed more of the sample than I meant to before trying with water. With water the fruit seems to become slightly more sour. It’s quite an experience to try this one. I really enjoyed the boldness, both bold fruit and wood. Really thrilled to have had the opportunity. Many thanks to @ContemplativeFox for the sample!