2 oz in glen cairn without and then with 5 drops of water Appearance- dark cola color with thick running legs. One of the darkest finished straight bourbons I have seen to date Nose- Raisin and oak dominate. There is an underlying musty tobacco aroma too, which is brought out most with water added. Palate- without water this is bitter, tannic, raisin bran. Wasn't a fan at all. WITH water it is completely transformed! The oak is toned down but still there. The raisin is no longer bitter and almost more like black plum or fig. There is a currant " jaminess" that comes forward that is really pleasing. Finish- a dry oak bucket is the best way to put it. With water, that oakiness is put more to the background and raisins and perhaps bran cereal or bran muffin are the note to go out on. Overall- this is the tale of two bourbons. Without water it is almost abonimable. It is tight, all oak and raisin, and bitter from start to finish- a 2 rating. But water really moves it in the right direction. For 139.99 I am not going to re-seek this. As a unique and challenging bottle, I move the mark up. At the price point though, you are paying a lot to play the higher difficulty level. If you are patient to coax out some things there are rewards. For me, "the lemon isn't worth the squeeze."