After the pinnacle of bourbon brilliance that is the Belle Meade 9 year old single cask, this was bound to be a little bit of a letdown. Once you've seen the Promised Land, even a Hawaiian vacation seems sad in comparison. This is still a fine offering, however. A nose of vanilla, sour dill pickle, spices, and wood leads into a dry, wine-inflected (duh) palate with the usual markings of a high rye mashbill bourbon. The finish is dry, woody, and reminiscent of a dry white wine. It's not bad, and it does have a unique personality, but I would never pay the really steep recommended retail for this.