I got a pour of this as an aperitif this weekend while at a sports bar. It was my first go at this highly recommended whiskey. Vanilla, apricot and alcohol on the nose. The initial flavors were somewhat stifled by the alcohol. I am not too sensitive to a strong drink, but this one caught me off guard a bit. There is a lot to like here. Peppery spice, sweetness, vanilla and a touch of fruit. A few drops of water seemed to do very little. It seemed like it even removed some notes I had been enjoying, so I recommend this neat. The finish is a bit short but also not the smoothest. This is a solid buy for a 10 year, "single-ish" barrel at $35 in NC. 3.5