My bottle neat, nose is soft some hints of cinnamon and oak. Taste, cinnamon but doesn't last long. Some people call it banana which I can see, but I see it more as actual maple syrup, I love maple and make my own syrup. And hints of vanilla. An ice cube to chill it down mellowed it out but reminds me of Gentleman jack. Overall it's nice, but really to me it reminds of jack daniels but with a little more bite. 80proof jack is too watered down, but this has a little more spice