Rating: 18/23 N: Musty wood, vanilla, cornbread, limestone, peanut, ginger, orange peel, dark chocolate. A bit of sawdust. Overall, this smells mature and quite tasty, but there's nothing really unique about it. P: The high proof hits immediately, but there's flavor to back it up. The longer it goes on, the more impressed I am by how the flavor lingers. It starts with black pepper, cinnamon, clove, and ginger, then some musty, dusty wood comes in with a mellow sweetness of vanilla, cornbread, and popcorn balls. Faint limestone. This isn't the most complex palate, but it has a nice mix of complexity, balance, and decadence. It shows off its age well, but it also drives home that 12 years for a bourbon really isn't all that impressive. Taking a bigger sip, some caramel mixed with sweet corn comes out, along with a touch of orange. It's a nice decadence. The proof is clearly carrying a lot of the weight of the robust flavor though. Faint wood beam, with some bitterness even. F: Clean, clear, sweet, spicy, vanilla, with mellow cornbread. This is an easy finish, but not one that really stands out. - Conclusion - I'm liking this a lot. It's easy drinking, but is it luxury? No. As much as I like this, it's kind of forgettable. Russell's Reserve 10 (16/23) is more complex, but less full, with more of a flinty minerality. This might taste slightly more mature. Russell's Reserve Single Barrel is maybe slightly less full, but it's quite similar. Both are decadent, but this probably tastes a little fuller. They have similar heat. The Russell's is fruitier, but somehow a bit less mature tasting. Overall, I think I prefer this. OK, so this is going to be getting a great rating from me. It's still not amazing, but it's delightful. I'm thinking that a 19 is the most appropriate rating. I wouldn't go below an 18, nor would I go up to a 21. My bottle of Balcones True Blue Cask Strength (19/23) is more challenging than this, but it's more decadent and complex. Honestly, I think that the two of these are similar in quality, so a 19 is quite appropriate. Choosing between these two, I'd give the Balcones the win most likely. Coming back to try this again, I like its mellowness and sweet woody vanilla and spice. This is more approachable, but the Russell's Reserve Single Barrel is more nuanced. They're close in quality, but I'm thinking about dropping this to an 18 or maybe even a 17. Uncle Nearest 1856 (15/23) has a similar level of complexity and mellowness, but has a bit less dusty wood and more alcohol bitterness. This is clearly better, but it isn't blowing me away in comparison. Russell's Reserve 10 is more bitter and odd, but it's more complex. A nicely oxidized bottle of Rabbit Hole Cavehill is lighter with more popcorn ball flavor. It's pretty approachable, but not as full and decadent as this. Belle Meade Cask Strength Reserve tastes surprisingly more herbal and mature side by side with this. It's delicious next to this. I might need to go down to a 17. Ending on Blanton's, I appreciate the greater sweetness of the Blanton's, as well as its slightly cleaner profile. It is lighter though, whereas this is more decadent. I think that I have to give the nod to this and end on an 18. I'm glad that Rare Perfection delivered something better than they did with their 14 year old Canadian this time. Thanks @Milliardo for sharing!