Color: Nice deep cherry-amber Nose: High proof nose... what I mean by that is I get a very strong sense of the presence of alcohol. That is not to say that it's overwhelming or off-putting. It's simply a potent nose of oak, sweet leather, and what I always get as "molasses" but could very well be more "maple". At any rate, it's one of those noses that bodes well for the palate, and you hope it follows through..... Palate (drank with an ice cube): The palate, indeed, lives up to rhe promise of the nose! Viscous mouth feel. Big spice on the first sip. Cinnamon graham cracker follows. I am in total agreement with others who have said this does not drink per its proof. Smooth! Oh, wow! Got a huge "walnut" blast on the second sip. Love when I get any nuttiness from a pour — but walnut is my favorite and ensures a good 0.5 - 0.75 stars boost when it comes time to rate it. Sweet and spicy as the ice cube melts a little. Oh, yeah... "Walnut" is the predominant flavor I get from this bad boy. Mild chest hug begins to settle in as you make your way to the bottom of the glass. Finish: More nuttiness and some burnt oak. Something akin to "drying"(?), but not really. Final Thoughts: Oh, this is good stuff. These batches become harder to find once the initial run hits your stores. But I would go out of my way to find this again. Solid 4.5 stars.