Wooh doggie! My bottle is 116.73 proof!… and every bit if that meets me right up front! At the nose a nice oak and floral hint comes to bear. That first sip as neat will let you know you are alive! I added about 5 drops of water to mellow it down a little which opened up the nose. Still very much in your face as far as on the tongue so I slipped in a little chocolate bite to see what impact that had… honestly, very little. Still a bit harsh. Will work this one as a sipping bourbon to see if it mellows out… I want to like it for some reason…