I have to say this upfront: I was coming in hot to this review ready to throw this bourbon under the bus. Disappointment was too nice a word to describe my initial takeaway. The nose is ok, don't get me wrong. The brown sugary, cotton candy, vanilla and oaky fragrance is both pronounced and smile-worthy. But the palate. THE PALATE. My first thought was "Did I dump a liter of Aquafina into my glass?" After reflection I realized that no, no I did not. That watery, thin, arrival was from a neat pour. And my oh my is it thin. For a 10-year, 90-proof, non-wheated bourbon, it's almost shocking the languidness of the arrival. And for $35, anger was induced, my dear friends. At that point, I was already reeling into that place you go when you just dropped $15 more on a bottle than it was worth. A dark place to be indeed. Buuuut then something happened. The finish. And wow what a finish it is! After getting past the muted palate, a long, balanced and most of all complex finish paves the way home. Honey, cinnamon, allspice, sweet corn, oak, a touch of mint and others I have not quite ID'd yet dance in a symphony of satisfaction. Each dram showcases a new note, and I'm dancing all the way. So, is this a good small batch bourbon? It fits right in there. If you're looking for a smooth as silk dram, you could do much worse. But for a few bucks more (or even less) other options, like Eagle Rare, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve, Elijah Craig small batch or even Evan Williams Single Barrel are still a notch above. If anything, this one's value rises with repetition, which is not the worst thing you can ask for in a mid-range bourbon. 3/5