Sometimes the tasting notes on the bottle don’t line up with what’s IN the bottle, but in this case the bottle notes are spot on: allspice, pepper, and almond. The Russells never fail to get vanilla and oak into the mix and they’re a welcome addition. There’s also a bit of citrus in the form of lemon peel. The flavors work well together and the whiskey is smooth at 45% ABV. It would probably get lost in a cocktail, but as a neat sipper it’s enjoyable, though it lacks a wow factor. *Note: I score from 0-5 with 0 being the worst whiskey possible, 2.5 being average, and 5 being the most sublime nectar of the gods.