I used to think this was pretty good before I started trying more bourbons like Buffalo Trace, Knob Creek, Elijah Craig.. Etc., For the money, Ezra Brooks Black is far better. Bird Dog has a front-forward, vanillaish nose and front-end that kind of tapers down to the taste of Texas lake -kind of a like earthy lake water. dirty. I've noticed a lot of the cheaper bourbons wear on me this way. Not anything I'd buy again.