Nose- caramel and stinging smell of alcohol Taste- caramel to start then leveling to a sweet with the alcohol present at all times. At times it is slightly harsh, but overall not bad. The spice of the whiskey gives way to a Sweet aftertaste that mellows into notes of apricot and vanilla. Overall- as a budget whiskey it is a powerful whiskey worthy of being an “everyday driver” of any collection. While it won’t compete with its finer bred brethren, it suffices as on its own and the drinker will be stronger because of it.