My rating in the bourbon world as a -whole- for this would be closer to 3.25 or so. My rating of 4.0 here reflects how I feel about it given its pricepoint and availability to me. How to review such a bourbon? It's simple. It's straightforward. It doesn't really do anything that'll raise the eyebrows of those that constantly have high age barrel strength yadda-yaddas and whatnots. But where this shines is its real -balance-. There's reward here for those that try to dissect something lower proof and search for those notes. They're in there. This tiptoes a fine line between sweet, apple, brown sugar, etc. with a little side dish of some rye spice flavors in the cinnamon-esque world. This is nice. If you like what Buffalo Trace bourbon does, if you like what Blanton's bourbon does, give this a run. Hell, if you have both of those, blind sample this with them. I bet you'll surprise yourself. Anyway it's good, pick one up.