Enticing ad campaign aside, this is slightly above average. Its easy to drink, the bottle looks sharp, it's priced fairly as is everything the Russels seem to release...and despite their dabbling with Hollywood (which is a poor fit imo) this somehow barely avoids being gimmicky. I dont know about the mesquite claim...I find the wood level to be mild. Not Nancy Pelosi total shrinkage....I mean AOC mild. Wood level. D'o ya... see what I....never mind. Adding anything other than your lips to this glass will degrade the integrity. Its neat or nothing due to its barely-there backbone. But despite these frailties, its pretty good bang for your buck and perfect for parties full of people who dont understand whiskey and will drink your whole bottle and not seem to notice and you can be cool about it because it was inexpensive and then you can be the cool guy who lets his exotic whiskey get pounded down the gullets of ex-fratboy screamers arguing with the wind towards each other, and doesnt seem to mind so long as he gets to keep the empty bottle. That's you. Youre the cool one in that situation. Dont forget it. And in that scenario that could never happen to me but might you, this bottle is your ideal wingman.