Neat: Sweet, vanilla, ethanol. Seems basic at first, but after a few sips the dessert spices and oak start to come out when your tongue numbs and the finish builds up in your mouth a bit. An ice cube or a few drops of water transforms the beast in to a beauty..Toasty wood, some hidden char..still sweet, but less cloying. then it's rye time...cardamom, allspice, a little rye grass, and the slightest orange and mint in the middle..fading to leave sweet oak in the still longish finish. I'm tasting RB on ice back to back with Basil Hayden neat and it's pretty darn similar. BH fans might want to consider this for a few bucks more, especially if they like it on the rocks This will always have a space in my bar.