"Won" this bottle at a right-to-buy raffle, though it was still quite pricey, but served as an excellent offering for a group purchase/crack. This is a top ten, maybe top five nose in my modest, but far from neophyte, whiskey drinking career. Lively and vibrant from the first nose, this one has plenty of rum barrel influences that changes just a bit each time you nose deeper. Tons of tropical fruits ranging from orange and passion fruit to berries and banana-like esters. But beneath the rum barrel is an impressive base whiskey, replete with caramel and vanilla and oh-so-inviting. Note that water doesn't do much to open things further, but that is also completely unnecessary with this whimsical pour. Flavor is lighter than anticipated, but in a good, approachable manner (even if a 'negative' is that its 'too easy' to drink). I would argue the rum barrel is more prevalent on the palate than on the nose, and I can't scratch a 'rum and coke' like flavor with cola-like flavors. It is a very sweet pour, but doesn't feel fake in any sense, with plenty of caramel, vanilla, and light wood notes to make it clear this is, indeed, bourbon. Dessert like with hints of vanilla bon-bons and chocolate-covered cherries. Finish is light and airy, but lasting. I pick up some new notes of molasses and pineapple (seriously) on the finish. An amazing pour that I went into with considerable skepticism. I overpaid relative to MSRP, but I would pay this price again to have a fresh bottle on the shelf...