First time trying this bottle Nose - vanilla explosion! Super complex nose with a lot going on. Nutmeg and spices round out an excellent nose with some cherries and sugar. For a 124 proof bourbon I didn’t catch hardly any ethanol burn. Taste - very full and rich to the tongue. Vanilla leads the way with other spices. Amazingly smooth. Vanilla keeps rolling on my tongue and leads way to a cherry flavor and light pepper taste. Vanilla stays on the tongue with light burn on a long finish. This is how bourbon should taste. Overall and value- I am so glad this bottle lived up to the hype. Vanilla lovers should be on the lookout for this 2018 release. I hate that a bottle this good is so hard to find or so expensive. This bottle is easily in my top 3.