It smells a lot like bourbon - wood, vanilla, rye, caramel. The flavor is kind of mild (understated) but it is balanced and has some elements that stick out on their own. The flavors a re pretty traditional bourbon with some clear eye notes. It tends toward the sweet side with some tartness and plenty of spiciness. It's sippable without being outstanding, but that's impressive for such a cheap drink. I wish that there were less rye and the cinnamon is a bit too strong. Ultimately, it's barely sippable because of the rye presence, but the sweetness from the corn is a big help. It's not terribly complex, but it is nicely balanced with decent flavors and without being too weak from minerals. It tastes a bit watery with some cinnamon and licorice sweetness. There's a disappointing, herbal, rubber backing. There's some nice caramel. The flavor is ultimately fine but disappointing, much like Evan Williams Black. It has a substantial amount of rye, but it adds to the rubber flavor when combined with the harsh cinnamon and licorice. Ultimately, it's fine, but not very good. I kind of prefer Evan Williams.