Very interesting bourbon here. It's a rather light-tasting bourbon, but with some of the complexity you'd find in a more expensive bourbon. It has a nice, balanced vanilla, anise sort of flavor. I'd say the lower reviews probably have to do with it not having a fuller body, but in terms of quality, it's very good. Fruity, light-bodied, some spice and citrus kick in at the finish which lingers very nicely right on the tongue, but rather clean in the throat. I used to drink cognac, so I'd say this is a good transition into good quality bourbon for people who appreciate good cognac. Some bourbons open up best with a little cool [not cold] water. For this bourbon, try pouring about 2 shots into the glass and let it sit for about 3-4 minutes, then put a single ice cube and let it sit for another few minutes. For whatever reason, this one likes the cold temperature of ice to open up. As opposed to a splash of water, ice brings out a bit more boldness to the body. It's normally priced about $50, but I got it on sale for $34, so it turned out to be a very good deal. About halfway through the bottle, I didn't think I'd pay regular price for this. However, after getting down into a few other bourbons after this one, I have to say that I think it's a fairly high quality bourbon.