On the nose it smells like Jim Beam; caramel, vanilla, oak, spice, ginger. Still reminds me of Root Beer with a hint of smoky barrel char. - To the palate it’s a little sharp to start, with sweet spice hitting first before some dry oak settles in with vanilla. Sweet caramel, spicy cinnamon, black pepper, sharp ginger, vanilla bean, oak wood and some subtle smoky char. - In the finish I find there is an alcoholic tingle left on the tongue along with those sweet and spicy notes sitting on top of a subtly dry oak. — With a splash of water, the alcohol sharpness is gone, but none of the spice. In fact, I think it got sweeter and spicier... the pepper note is lingering long after the finish. More oak on the nose and palate as well. —//— Bourbon Mark: 83 —//— For this one, I’d have to say it’s like the spiciest version of a root beer you can imagine. That being said; tasting side by side with Jim Beam Bonded, I think I actually like the cheaper bottle better. - They’re both spicy, they’re both young, they’re both good... I like them both, but I think I prefer the drama of Bonded’s flavour profile over the peppery notes of this particular Single Barrel.