Very deep color, perhaps a bit darker than expected for a 7 year. Surprisingly, there is a grain forward nose, which is odd for the age. Perhaps that's a wheat scent coming through that still resides in the flavor profile. The initial flavor moves around a lot, so it not only tastes oily, but almost acts oily. A large spice bomb drops right as the oil subsides, which I thought was the proof kicking in, but it also could be mistaken for rye, which I don't believe is in this bourbon's mashbill. The finish opens up a warm, caramel, fall feeling. For all the ridiculous hype that this bourbon is getting, it is pretty fantastic. I would never buy this on the secondary market or head hunt for it, but buying it for the extremely cheap price that the distillery recommends is a no-brainer if I ever see it.