This one speaks for itself. It's a household name and one of the most popular mixing whiskies at the moment. Let's see how it works as a stand-alone sipper. Nose: Lots of rye spice, as expected with 95% rye in the mash bill. Clove spice and cinnamon as well. Some nail polish and grassy hay. Not a great deal going on and not a particularly great start. Palate: Things quickly improve with the palate. Once again, rye is the word. It's like taking a huge bite into a piece of untoasted rye bread. There is also vanilla, clove, and black pepper. Not particularly interesting, but enjoyable nonetheless and a huge step up from the nose. Finish: Medium. Cinnamon and black pepper from start to finish. About halfway through the finish, a nice black licorice note moves to the forefront. More than halfway through the bottle, I can certainly see the appeal. While I never go out of my way to have a cocktail, I can see how this would work as a great base. And as a sipper, it's worth keeping around for when it's time to put away the good stuff but you can still need another drink. I get to rough start with the nose every time I pour this one, but the palate onward yields a surprisingly rewarding experience. Great VFM bumps this one up from a ~2.75-3 to a solid 3 stars.