So I had the wonderful opportunity to try this over the 4th of July holiday. So when we had finished eating and most of the men were sitting around the table this elixir of life was opened for us to try. Right off the block, it has a pure bourbon smell. I could smell vanilla and sweetness then a bit of spice. I did make the mistake of taking a deep breath of the Bourbon and it numbed my sense of smell for a few minutes. I do taste oak and spice on the end. But this is a great Bourbon it has a great bold but smooth taste and it lets you know that you are drinking a Bourbon. At 100 proof it is hot but it is controlled with most of the heat showing up at the end of the drink. Bourbons like this are why I like drinking bourbon it is a friend and family event. We talked about the aspects of the drinks and the flavor of each one. My thanks to Jeff Sutton he chose the bottle and shared it with the family. If you really enjoy whiskey not just Bourbon this should be in your home bar. What a fine drink this was.