At 100 proof, quite strong taken neat. Probably should have dropped in a cube. Very buttery palate, smooth but with a heavy corn and oak presentation. I was picking up slight leather at first, but it was muddled with a weird plastic taste, almost chemical. Butter, maybe light pecan, but what was missing was that vanilla flavor I love in bourbon. I picked this up after seeing it won the San Francisco World Spirits Competition double-gold, but now I wish I had gone with my gut and picked up the Four Roses I had my eye on. This is, for me, a 2.5 star bourbon, but I'll round it up instead of down. Probably will be a mixer for me.