It smells spicy like paprika. The flavor is really full and robust. There's plenty of spice, but it isn't overly pronounced. It's very rich with some interesting earthiness that mixes well with the cocoa. There's a lot of vanilla and some burnt sugar. There's a large dose of kind of generic fruit. The flavors here are quite good. The vanilla lingers on the finish, adding some needed sweetness. There's quite a bit of vanilla, but it is well balanced. The herbal note is a bit odd but not wholly unlikable. This is a really impressive bourbon. With water added, more fruit and toffee come out on the nose. More rye comes out with water added, but it still doesn't overwhelm. The spice becomes more piercing with sharp pepper and clove bites. It becomes more bitter as well with the water. The bitterness tastes like wood with some herbal and orange juice notes. It's quite harsh with the water, actually, and it's also a bit more floral. I'm not as thrilled by this when water is added, but it is still quite complex and tasty despite the intense harshness. It's a great bourbon. I like the minimal tartness, though I'd actually prefer a little less. I really wish that the spiciness were less challenging, but I love the richness and complexity. The notes are all quite good too. There's a lot more maple once the water opens it up, but the spice and wood are still there. This isn't exceptionally sweet, but it is balanced.