I've been holding this since October 2023 when I found it during a trip to NC. BIG hype, and a BIG ($110) price, but I popped for it. Time to try it, neat. In the glass, light browned copper, with strong coating legs. Nose is beautiful and delicate--sweet vanilla, malted grain, berry fruit, cherry, and yes, I can see the bubblegum comments, too. A little grassy spice sits at the back. In the mouth, good spice bump and pepper, but not huge, and gives way quickly to cherry, vanilla, tannic oak, sweet cereal, mint and dry grass. Malty, and an oily coating mouthfeel is really pleasant, tamping down the spicy rye introduction (which is good or bad, depending on your taste in ryes). That coating mouthfeel dominates the finish, which is long and soft--softly sweet and spicy, minty, and dry oaky. A little cherry lingers, but with no sour aftertaste. The first taste out of this bottle a few days ago seemed... a little underwhelming, with muted flavors (too soft?), not a big rye spice bomb given the 100 proof and the 100% rye (2 varieties) mashbill on Leopold's side. Whether it's me, a week old bottle, or just the day... I don't much care. Right now, it's feeling elegant and complex and... just right! Of course, I'm still stuck on the price, which is good given the price of Leopold whiskies, but not so good given Dickel's. But hand it to them, Dickel is making their own column distilled rye now, and they're getting good results. So, this is a "splurge bottle," a wonderful collaboration, a nuanced proprietary blend of three chamber and column distilled ryes, and I'm going to enjoy it as such without worrying about what I paid nine months ago. Salut!