Typically, I am extremely weary of recommendations made to me by Total Wine staff. But today, as I was perusing their latest shipment; a Total Wine employee approached me and started to make recommendations. Keen to see if he was just trying to push their "spirits direct" selections like Grangestone ( ick ), or if the guy really knew what he was talking about; I played dumb and asked him for recommendations for a series of scenarios. And he pointed out a few very good bourbons to whet my whistle. He recommended this Old Emmer Cask Strength to use in a good Manhattan or Old Fashioned, proudly telling me the story of the "Old Emmer Wheat Strain" and all that marketing mumbo jumbo. But at the end of the day: this is a cask strength, wheated bourbon coming in under $50 a bottle. Surely it wouldn't be that bad, right? The nose smells a bit ethanol rich from the proof ( surprising because 110 proof isn't that potent in this space ). But beyond that, there is a tannic oak top layer with underlying smooth and sweet honey. Plums provide a rich, darker, pitted fruit essence as well. This selection is smooth and sweet, but not cloyingly so. I suspect the cask strength helps it to not move too far towards that direction. Caramel and honey provide a silky foundation for vanilla and honey roasted nuts. Mid taste, baking spice comes on strong and right toward the end of taste: a tannic bite of charred oak barrel. The finish is quite long and oily albeit not exactly complex. That charred oak stays but along with it some dark cocoa powder that lingers for a while. Old Emmer Cask Strength was quite a surprise! Sweet, complex and satisfying - I am thoroughly impressed by this. Look: for sub $50 a bottle, what have you got to lose? This selection whomps pretty hard on many bottles double this price point.