Nose is nothing special, offering apple, pear and hearty cereal grains, but more as a unit instead of being individual guests to the party. You can tell what it is, but they all run together such that it somewhat dilutes the overall experience. Palate is rich and warm, not oily at all, but it does climb half way up my tongue before tapering out. The taste is where this finally makes a clean, clear break from its bourbon sibling. Yes, apples and caramel and vanilla, but also sharp allspice and star anise before tapering to a pleasant, drying finish where the pine notes finally makes an appearance. A splash of water doesn't change the nose, but amplifies the pine and to me somewhat ruins the overall balance. This is a nice drink, equally suitable for any cocktail that specifies rye and also standing on its own merits neat in a glass. A nice drink, and one that will join my house rye rotation with the equally affable Old Forester Rye.