Oak, brown sugar, salty caramel with a bit of pine, and a touch of vanilla and clove on the nose. Noticeable alcohol keeps you from going too deep on the nose initially. Hot oak and baking spices rush in on the palate before being blunted by vanilla, caramel, and dark fruit. The fruit notes have a subtly earthy aspect that stays on the sweet side with cinnamon, vanilla, and fruit. The finish includes a subtle smokey note behind the spiced fruit. The finish stays awhile, giving a slightly dry barrel char and vanilla that slowly tapers into a slightly peppered oak as it fades. This is definitely a barrel-forward bourbon with a lot of alcohol. A drop or two of water blunts the alcohol on the nose and mellows the hotness on the palate.