I was compelled to buy this one after a friend sent me an article that discussed the 2018 bourbon of the year. This one beat out Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, which, though I'd yet to try it, had enough of a reputation to get me interested in this Old Ezra. After seeing it at a very reasonable $45, I pulled the trigger. Nose: Traditional bourbon notes turned up a notch. Very rich. Big-time caramel, brown sugar, and oak. I'm not sure what the mash bill is here, but the corn notes really come through. Beneath that, I get new couch leather and tobacco. A trace of vanilla. Great nose. Palate: Heavy caramel, vanilla, butterscotch, peanut, and sweet cola. Shockingly easy-going upon arrival. This changes, however, when the spice kicks in on the mid-palate. Lots of cinnamon, as well as nutmeg and other baking spices. Oak is prominent throughout. Finish: Medium-to-long. Maybe a tad shorter than I was expecting considering the ABV, but it's still very respectable. Spicy cinnamon hits hard. The charcoal-mellowing also shows up here. While I can identify the same characteristic that I get in Jack Daniel's products, it's done infinitely better in this one. Bourbon of the year? Maybe. I'd probably take the Elijah Craig (though to be fair the one I picked up was 2017). However, this is half the price of that one, and really not all that far behind. This one punches well above its weight class in terms of quality, but has is as drinkable as far weaker bourbons. At $45 it's a no-brainer, and quite possibly the best value of 2018. If you're into bourbon, pick this one up. It will not disappoint. Edit: I've finally finished this one 3 months after cracking. After some oxidation, I must say that it has only gotten better with time. I've decided to bump it from 4.75 to 5 stars because it's amazingly balanced and comes at a ridiculously low price when you consider what's inside.