Taste: 1.5 oz neat in mini-glen cairn Nose (3.25): Vanilla and pecans with a bit of creamed corn. There is also a bit of acetone/nail polish remover note that flaws the nose a bit. It is not completely off putting but it is the achille's heel here. Palate (3.5): Palate is loads of vanilla and raw pecans giving way to pecan pie. The palate is better than the nose. Spice rushes in on the back end and it gets a little bit hot. Finish (3.25): Caramel and vanilla with a bit of cinnamon. The finish is lingering with some ethanol to dry things out. Overall: Average to above average pour here. The vanilla and pecan is really good, but the nail polish remover on the nose, and that last pop of ethanol on the finish I wish wasn't there. It flaws what would really be a ratjer enjoyable bourbon. Is it better than the old 6yr old bottle....unequivocably yes. Is it a better value.....not really. I think the price increase cancels out the extra year. The old 6 yr bottle-- cheaper but definately thinner and less dimensional. New 7 yr. BiB- more flavor, richer, but twice as much. Not a bad bottle, but no need to hunt it.