Per the usual Bookers, the color is a nice medium amber. Straight out of the bottle the nose is a little bit astringent. When allowed to rest for a minute notes of oak and toffee come out. There may also be a bit of bitter orange and some leather in there. The palate is rich and warm. It is incredibly smooth on the front end with lots of mid pallet space and some burn going down. Toffee, butter scotch and tobacco predominate with a delicious dose of spice to balance it out. Another sip and the toasted oak becomes very apparent rather than being overpowering in anyway seems to be balanced with the other flavors. The finish is long and sweet with caramel and apple pie flavors coming to mind. The heat sticks around as a mild linger and is enjoyable after the third sip. This is a whiskey that has begs you to drink more of it and see what other flavors come out of it. With the surge of craft distilleries, overpriced allocated bottles and other me-too Bourbon showing up in the market for $70-80 this is still a true standout (and thank God still on most every shelf). Rich, rich, rich. I love this whiskey. ——— Revisit - once the sawdust blows off the nose is spicy and rich. The palate is rich, buttery candied pecans and cinnamon and clove blow back out of the nares with a long toffee finish. This is like a piping hot, nutty bread pudding for desert. Still fantastic being half empty and 1-2 years old. ——— Revisit - half way gone, still a brown sugar and pepper bomb, still hot but oh so creamy in texture. Definitely Beam. Still some bitter orange zest and clove. Underneath the predominantly warm, sweet finish is a bit of earthiness. Still going solid, closing in on 3y mark.