* My bottle. Barreled: 11.11.08, barrel no.193, bottled: 7.12.16 Nose: Up-front an almost sherry-like aroma with a touch of vanilla, but not too heavy. As that is penetrated menthol appears to cool things down and liven up the show. There is oak in the background, cedar cigar-box, liquorice and anise. Palate: A firm arrival that is spicy and almost drying but nicely balanced by the inherent sweetness of corn. A little ginger and some not-too-sweet honey - or maybe beeswax? A touch of brine. There's a Jamaica rum note in there as well along with some leather and oak. Finish: Medium, with a woody, cereal and warm spicy character. It fades out on the salty note, although a hint of that sherry-like presence lingers on for a long time. For me this is reminiscent of a Speyside single malt profile (maybe a Speyside finished in wet bourbon barrels?). Nicely balanced and eminently drinkable with more complexity than I had expected. A dash of water opens it up a bit, but it's so velvety and elegant neat it seems a shame to bruise it. I didn't get much of the fruit mentioned in the official tasting notes here, perhaps a raisin or sultana note. Thankfully, it is free of the heavy molasses and vanilla baggage of some bourbon. The dry glass has a slightly smoky brown sugar aroma. As this is the only expression I've tried I can't make comparisons with previous years, however I found this most enjoyable and eminently drinkable. Bear in mind that I usually stick to Scottish single malts, so I may be looking for characteristics in a bourbon that match my preferences. I'll happily make room in the cupboard for this, and at the asking price it is very good value. The official rating here of 96 sounds like an overly generous score to me. Recommended, and exceptional value for money. "Very Good" : 87/100 (4.25 stars)