I like this for what it is, which is a typical mixing whiskey from Canada. I would prefer this over Crown Royal in that scenario. The nose is very sweet, to me it smells just like cotton candy. The taste or palate is just as sweet as the nose, except it has some vanilla and more cream to it. I can't see myself wanting to drink it completely neat, it would be too sweet for that. But if I was in the mood for a sweeter old fashioned or cocktail, this is a good bottle to have around. It's not necessarily a whisky demanding to be enjoyed neat, so I won't judge it as that. For the price, it's a good bottle to have on hand.