Nose- The nose gives off rich maple syrup, fresh ground cloves, and oak. There is also a bit of chewy nougat in the background. Palate- at first sip I get candied orange and dark chocolate, whixh then gives way to some molasses and that maple syrup I had gotten on the nose. Finish- this lingers to a nice warm orange candy finish with a drizzle of dark chocolate, and spice. There is a bit of a waxiness near the end that I haven't decided if I like yet. Kind of like those waxy tube candies with the liquid inside. It is not overly sweet, but there is another layer that it fades to. Overall- This is a smashing hit! I enjoyed this way better than the 2020 Special Release. Quality, rich, deliciously layered rye all the way. Water helps release some if the concentrated flavors, but for "proofies" this will pass the muster right out of the bottle. I enjoyed it more with 3 drops to tame a bit of the heat and be able to separate the flavor notes, but suit yourself. This is NAS, but literature puts these barrels between 7-8years. This is one if you can find, completely outkicks the coverage