Nose of heavy oak, Cabernet, rye, pear, charcoal, vanilla. Palate sweet vanilla and fruit, oak tannins, dry cab, spicy rye; bold all around. Long spicy, oaky tannic finish. With a little water the tannins really open up and it smells more like the inside of a cabernet barrel than a bourbon and there’s a new chocolate covered cherry element. The flavors are all there but they blend better. Good either way, but I think the water really makes it shine. Procured in Santa Fe New Mexico with @twostal