Licorice and maple leap out, though the nose is more maple than the palate is. It's very sweet and quite fun. It's sort of like Kentucky Owl 11 mixed with some rum and maple syrup. There's some rich woody backing that is well balanced with the maple. It's fun but not what I expect from a rye the smoke is plentiful and it's bitterness helps to offset the intense sweetness. Maybe it's like Kentucky Owl mixed with Ron Diplomatico. If you handed me this, I'm doubtful that I would guess it was a rye. There's some harsh spiciness that is cinnamon flavored with a bit of mild Christmas spice. The complexity and balance are both very good. The alcohol is there but is fairly subdued. There is some mineral flavor that I'm not a fan of so I guess I just wish this wasn't a rye. It all blends very well. It smells buttery and custardy. To the extent that there is fruit, it is dark cherry. I'm confused by this because it is very good, but it is hard to judge as a rye. I would happily sip it though.