This is the way Jack is meant to be. The nose is a bit anemic, but still pleasant. The palate is amazing. Rich, dense, sweet, like butterscotch, very spicy, and woody, but not very tannic. And considering it's filtered, it's surprisingly tame, even at full strength (though I definitely recommend a hearty dose of water). My favorite filtered, barrel strength whiskey. Again, this is what JD should be (but it still can't beat an unfiltered, uncut bourbon). Well worth the cost. In fact, I'm tempted to buy two or three more bottles to keep around.