This tastes more like a rye than the Michercs rye does, actually. There is a big tart presence that has some richness from the bitter flavor it is mixed with, but it is not terribly rich. There's a lot of spice here with cinnamon being notable. There is some vanilla, but not a ton. It's a bit bourbony for a rye, but it is more like rye than bourbon. Mostly, it tastes like a generic rye. It seems like a good mixer but I would t want to drink it straight.