The nose has a strong char character to it. It smells bitter like coffee with some bright, tart cherry, a veil of vanilla, a tad of caramel, and plenty of alcohol (which comes with some spice). The palate is quickly numbing and has some rich, rich wood with plenty of char. There's a huge coffee ground presence that is backed by a bouquet of vibrant red fruit and a harsh spiciness. It's sweet yet poignant with s numbing element front he spice coming in. While the fruit is a bit on the vibrant side and the char is a bit bitter, the flavors are nice. The balance is good, though it could be a bit better. The caramel isn't very present and isn't sickly sweet, but there is a very sweet syrup flavor and a ton of vanilla. It's very good, but a bit naive to be excellent. The finish is nice and toasty though. There's a hint of maple that isn't overwhelming and there's also a light mix of peppermint and spearmint. It's better than Old Forester Signature, but it has the same general character. It's tasty enough, but a bit overpriced. I expect to pay less for a 16-17 drink. Increased water brings out more wood and spice. Initially, it enhances the balance. Later on though, it detracts from it. It's an 18-19. I'd like to just call it a 19, but the light flavor detracts. A little water highlights the mineral flavor and bitter tinge of the char. It also brings out some cocoa, but it doesn't make the drink more complex or tasty. The char does add some interesting variation at times, kind of like it was inconsistently applied and there isn't a young wood presence. The alcohol does stand out a bit throughout though. It's solid. A little little bit of almond toastiness does come on through.