Aroma is tannin heavy and dry. Flavor is sharp and powerful, the tannin bitter of the wine barrel taking the front seat. Wave of flavor, riding what id describe as the default stranahan's Whiskey base, just a solid American single malt kind of flavor. Again, wish it was richer, but the power of the flavor is quite enjoyable. You don't always get well done bitter flavors in whiskey either, points for that.