The nose has a lot of oak and alcohol scent, with a hint of sweetness. I wasn't too impressed, but the palate turned out to be better than the nose. Lots of oak and spiciness, almost like a rye whiskey instead of a bourbon. Sweet caramel and vanilla were hinted at on the back end and the finish was long and warming. Overall I can see myself buying this in a rotation on my bottom shelf, but not really a must have. More like something interesting when I want a little different but don't want to spend a lot.