I've read some of the least flattering reviews and I must say that I'm disappointed in anyone giving this less than 4 stars. I'm a young guy who, despite trying different whiskeys in high school and college, only recently begun to experience the full complexity of different liquors. This taste amazing. With out a doubt one of the best whiskeys I have ever tried. I genuinely like the more smokey flavor of a scotch, but this is by far the easiest liquor to sip on, I have ever tried. After cracking open the bottle the first time, you might get a strong mix of flavors that are hard to differentiate. No, it does not smell like poop(manure) like some have tried to state. If you smell manure from this at all, you probably crapped yourself. After a couple days, go back and take another smell and you'll be plesently surprised by the vanilla notes. I always here people talk about liquors(mainly whiskey) like how people talk about cigars. "I can taste the mullbery, the pine tree, and the rodents ball sack!" I have tried my fare share of cigars and liquors and can say to anyone new to alcohol, that all of that is B. S. I can taste the vanilla and the caramel esce flavors from the oak barrels, bit no, there is no poop, mullberry, cinnamon(this ain't fireball) or any other non present flavors. It is smooth and does not taste like acetone or nasty alcohol. I suggest trying this on the rocks does not need to be mixed. This is the closest to a root beer smell/taste that I have ever had, and I love root beer.