I have had this bourbon several times and while there are worse ones on the market there are also better ones for near the price point. Ancient Age has a mild nose to me and a bit of vanilla and some sugar but after that, it is just ethanol which is sad. I understand from some reviews here and some older family members that AA used to have a better deeper flavor but with the greater demand for whiskey so many older labels have gone to younger blends. Where I live you can buy Evan Williams 1783 for three dollars more than AA and it tastes so much better. I will not buy this again and what I have left I will just mix with coke or ginger ale.