Decided to get around to reviewing this one. This bottle has been open at least 6 months. The first impressions I have had were VERY bad so lets see how about 1/4 of the bottle consumed (much of that given away) where this one is. Nose - Fruity notes, dry almost astringently dry oak, varnish, cherry, and alcohol. Taste - cherry, light spice, wood. That's all I'm getting here. Then just boring old bourbon. Adding water. Ok now i'm getting more cherry a touch of maybe chocolate, and the oak which when this bottle first opened up was funky and was almost like a wet blanket over the flavor has left but now I just get too much oak and not that good finished dusty oak that we want. Adding more water can i get citrus, almost grape fruit or perhaps watered down tangerines...it's subtle but there. Finish is mostly the wood, and some vanilla. Nothing special I was really hoping this one had opened up in the bottle and was now a wonderful dram but sadly it's changed but it's still a pretty disappointing bottle of bourbon. I'm still scoring it 2 stars as there's a lot of complexity in the wood notes and this is not a simple daily drinker. It really does force you to take your time which I think is of value. If it weren't nearly 250 (it's 250 if you don't find it in a store like I did), I'd consider moving this up to closer to 3.0 which is for normal priced whisky where I say go buy it if you like the style and the price is in your normal range. This is just so expensive and it doesn't deliver at all. I will note I do wonder if perhaps there were better bottles out there as I've seen some good reviews from those I respect and the group I was with who bought these at retail have been disappointed.