Visual: In the glass it is a deep reddish brown like good southern sweet tea. Forms thick, slow moving legs down the side of the glass after a swirl. Nose: The first thing that struck me was the absence of vanilla on initial nosing, as vanilla seems to be the dominant note for most bourbons. I initially picked up dark chocolate, lots of leather (Horween shell cordovan), heavy wood and some alcohol burn – not surprising given the high ABV – and a bit of chemical/solvent aroma that I could not exactly nail down. A couple drops of water and about 10 minutes of rest brought out the vanilla at long last, and dampened the alcohol and solvent notes significantly, while also bringing out caramel apples. The dram starts to smell somewhat like a dessert, except for the leather note in the background. Palate: Wow. The palate could not be more different than the nose! The first sensation on the tip of the tongue is not sweetness, but tart citrus, followed by a slight saltiness and a very drying astringency. Although this whiskey is fairly low rye (10% of the mash bill or so I’ve read), what little rye there is seems to assert itself mid-palate with a hard rye spice note, followed by strong oakiness. Finish: The finish is long and warming (that high ABV again) with lots of licorice. A tannin bitterness follows. This is probably the most complex and challenging bourbon I’ve tried so far. I imagine that, as I work my way through this bottle, I will likely pick up different aromas and flavors. On its complexity alone I give this five stars and a recommendation for those looking for a not-your-everyday bourbon experience. Addendum: I have had several drams of this neat and would not change my review above based upon these follow-up tastings. However, I have now tried this on the rocks, and the ice makes a huge difference. The sour/tart flavor is completely neutralized, allowing a little more saltiness and some vanilla and brown sugar sweetness to come through on the palate. The leather and oak notes are more assertive, as well. The finish is slightly bitter, but not unpleasantly so. When it comes to bourbon, I'm not a strict adherent to drinking all drams neat. In the case of Stagg, ice makes it a much more pleasurable drink. However, I will likely enjoy this one either way depending on my mood at the time. One style isn't necessarily better, they are just different.