It's a bit on the mild side. Rye easily comes through, but it doesn't taste at all like it was aged for 8 years. It's reasonably sweet but also tart. The rye spiciness is subdued like a trained dog. The cinnamon adds some nice sweetness without adding an overpowering harshness. It has some mild fruitiness. This reminds me of an upgraded version of Bulleit Rye. The bitter woodiness is kind of there, but it sure doesn't make itself shown too much. There isn't a ton of complexity and there are some off notes. The spices stand out the most, but not in an uber aggressive way. It has a dry, rich nose, but not a ton of distinction. The palate is rich and bitter with woodiness and a big dose of spice. Some fruit eventually comes out with a cherry flavor that gradually becomes more fresh. There's a lot of tannin going on here and it brings out some nice leather and toasted almond notes. There's a little bit of brown sugar, but not much. It tastes good though; after the initial bitter bite the flavors start to even out. The cherry gradually becomes more pronounced, but never becomes overwhelming. This doesn't quite have all of the nuance of Eagle Rare, but it has some really good richness. The spice is strong, but not overwhelming. It gradually becomes more appealingly hedonistic, but it never rises to a superb level of hedonism or complexity despite its good flavors and balance. There's plenty of vanilla in here yet it isn't overwhelming. Surprisingly, the vanilla doesn't make the flavor excessively floral despite the high amount of rye and dry nature here. There are floral flavors mixed with the fruit, but they're under control. As it progresses, the fruit acquires more of a bitter orange peel flavor and becomes more subdued, along with the almond flavor. The rye tartness and bitter spice start to dominate, which is disappointing, but it's still good.