16: The nose is sweet with plenty of caramel. The palate is sweet and tasty too with a bit of wood mixed with smoke, cinnamon, bitter herbs, caramel, cherry, mineral, and anise. The balance comes out more on subsequent sips and the complexity becomes apparent. I wish that there were less skunkiness though. On the finish, everything starts blending together. The mineral is a bit strong, but the flavors are toward the good side and mostly balance. The mineral is too strong, the richness is underpronounced, and the skunk is a little much. Still, I'd be happy to sip this. The spice isn't too strong but cinnamon is present. Some alcohol flavor eventually shows up and it tastes surprisingly like vodka, seriously dragging this down. This drink is sippable and would be a great mixer, but it needs a lot of work. It's hard to believe that this was aged 8-12 years. It smells smoky with a little fruitiness and plenty of alcohol harshness. Still, the nose has something going on. The palate has a lot of herbal flavor with some spicy tingle, licorice, and brief hints of red fruit. This tastes somewhere between Jim Beam Black and Belle Meade Cask Strength. It's really good! The mouthfeel is nice and full. The flavor is sweet in a way that blends seemlessly into the barrel. There are some more tart rye type notes, but they are far from overwhelming. Smoke is a player for sure, but it doesn't dominate either. The oiliness that is present isn't gross either. The flavors balance but not in a way that tastes monotone. It has some nice vanilla balancing it without making it taste particularly floral.