Honeyed note, as expected. The proof acts as a balance, warming throughout the palate. Strong vanilla flavor, with some neutral vegetal aspects. Salty. Splenda sweet instead of sugar. Not rough, but seemingly potent proofing that does not leave, even minutes later. Astringent, but otherwise smooth. Revisited. Just can't get into this one that much. Very flat and vegetal and too "hot" considering other offerings at barrel proof. Kinda tastes like freshly stripped bamboo and hay mixed with what I imagine to be a pencil - bland wood + graphite. Not sure what that means. Dropping rating to 2 stars. Not for me.