The nose erupts with praline, barrel spice, brown sugar, toffee, with a gentle twist of vanilla and dark fruits, all mingled with a strident alcohol presence. In the palate, there’s a more pronounced nuttiness, tobacco leaf, and loads of rye spice. The finish is brief, but punchy, with a highly effervescent ethanol charging its way off the tongue as the moderate mouthfeel dissolves almost instantly, leaving behind a punch of proof heat, more rye spice and tobacco leaf, and even a slight creaminess. Further sips found molasses, honey, clove, and some other faint woody notes. Ultimately, this whiskey will rise or fall in your estimation by how much enjoy the confluence of high rye and high proof. For those like myself who are slow, pensive sippers, the marriage does well, and may offer a more viable step down from the assertiveness of say, an older Elijah Craig Barrel Proof…albeit only a step.