The nose is fresh cut cherry wood, slightly bitter and tannic but giving way to sweet and spicy notes. There’s herbaceous and fruity sweet vermouth, a pinch of pepper, a sprig of fresh dill, and given time, a whisper of sweet sappy smoke from the barrel char, plus just a hint of vanilla. The taste is intense. Equal parts sweet and heat, both from the spice and the alcohol. Hold it on your tongue and the sweet wins out over the heat and initial bitterness. Flavors include grenadine, chili, pumpernickel bread, a bit of candy corn, and some candied ginger that just burns the back of your throat a bit. The body is good, with a velvety texture and very interesting legs. They take a long time to appear, first as a very thin skirt with many tiny beads. Then, the skirt slowly thickens and the beads become less and less as they chase each other down the walls of the glass. The finish is not as woody or dry as expected, but there is definitely some oak, a bit of tobacco leaf, and some lingering fruitiness with a touch of cocoa, kind of like Raisinets. It’s a mild but enjoyable and balanced finish. Water and ice kill the heat and dull the sweet while retaining some of the herbal notes and adding a bit of mint to the mix. Nose: 9 Taste: 9 Body: 9 Finish: 10