Light amber in the glass with sparse, slow legs. Aroma of caramel, raisins, oak and tobacco after 10m in the glass. Initially was more peanuts and red hots with corn sweetness... this from a freshly opened bottle mind you. Palate starts soft and smooth with a creamy mouthfeel and gradually warms like a naturally aspirated engine revving to around 8,000. A tingling spice comes along for the ride - something like allspice and dare I say mint. The finish is medium-long and resembles sour mash, tobacco and allspice. For a $25-30 lower shelf bottle in most stores I’ll agree that this beats many $44-50 bottles found higher on the shelf and offers a similar complexity and finish. The main difference is the way the allspice notes tingle the throat and nasopharynx. Might turn some off but for fans of BiB and higher proofs you should grab and share this one. I don’t do many cocktails but I suspect this would also make a wonderful Kentucky Mule, Old fashion or Manhattan. Would definitely buy again and put up against Old Forster for fans of that distillery.