The nose of the drink is sweet with apple notes coming to the fore. There is a hint of spices, perhaps nutmeg and allspice. On the pallet the drink is sweet like an apple cider. There is a hint of whiskey in the tail, with a slight vanilla finish. There is no hint of the charcoal I would expect from a Tennessee whiskey. it is very good so long as you are looking for a cider drink and not a whiskey. I tried it neat, but am very curious as to what it would taste like heated.