After breathing for some time, the first aroma stirs thoughts of a warm spring day on a ball field with your favorite baseball glove; you place the glove over you nose and take in that warm, fresh leather aroma. I am brought back to my childhood years. Breathe again and the aroma of Cracker Jacks (caramel popcorn) add more youthful baseball flashbacks. Small hints of bananas. The initial sip is hot and strong. The secondary sip is softer and the cinnamon notes are the primary player. The finish is oaky with black pepper and lasts virtually forever. This whiskey requires water. A good teaspoon opens the fruity side and awakens the banana and vanilla notes. The dram softens and becomes sweeter and greatly improved. An excellent bourbon that needs to be slowly sipped. A much more sophisticated bourbon. On par with Bookers or Four Roses. [$60][Opened: 4/24/16; 5/6/16][88/100]