I picked up a barrel pick for the Triad Municipal ABC board (NC) about a month ago. Tried it neat and it was hot. The ethanol and spice flushed out any other flavors. Tried it a few more times and got the same experience. Tried it with a little water and it did cut the spice but the other traditional bourbon flavors are still masked by the spice. I’m a huge fan of barrel proof / high proof bourbons, but this doesn’t hold a candle to Blanton’s SFTB, Woodford Batch Proof or Elijah Craig Barrel Proof or Weller 107. Do not agree at all with the 95 score this has, but to each his own. I’ll save this for nights when I cheat on keto and decide to drink an old fashion.