I avoided Maker's Mark for years. I found their flagship bourbon cloyingly sweet with a weird plastic-y aftertaste. My local store had a promotion on Private Select this week. I bit, but I didn't expect much. I was wrong. This is an incredibly well-balanced bourbon. Still puts sweetness forward but it's a three-dimensional Scotch-like sweetness with an undertone of ethanol burn. Finish is oak and tobacco with a backend of vanilla and dried fruit, all with just the right amount of heat. Will definitely return to this one. Staves were 2 baked American Pure 2, 1 seared French cuvee, 1 Maker's 46, 4 roasted French mocha, and 2 toasted French spice. 110.8 proof.