Dumped on 9-12-18, barrel #1571 Re-evaluation really opened this bourbon up. I can get the hype, but I won't pay over retail for a bottle. Nice complexity, but the palate seemed to ebb and flow in balance. Sometimes, the sweetness was too loud. Others, the spices took the experience on a savory trip. While often, they all found themselves intermingled and transitioned smoothly presenting that complexity gently. Just not often enough for this bottle to make its way onto my personal "Top Shelf". Also, a Thanksgiving blind tasting had Basil Haydens beat out Blanton's by a landslide. A verdict that I still uphold, having tasted both side by side again. Overall, I will say its a good bourbon that shows flashes of greatness. But, not a white whale. Aroma: Banana pudding, acetone, & spices. Flavor: Vanilla, black pepper, oak, & tobacco. Aftertaste: Salted toffee, vanilla wafer, & tobacco. Body: Medium