It smells rich and super woody. The palate is requisite with tons of wood mixed with that sweet alcohol richness, a bit of rye, coffee, some chocolate, apples, a little cherry, plenty of cinnamon, a dash of clove. It definitely has plenty of bitter to balance the sweet but without being overbearing. The finish is clean despite being a little bit bitter. This is an excellent whiskey, especially in the bourbon category, but it in no way justifies its price. This is that rate case where adding water brings out more flavor instead of revealing that it was depending on alcohol for all of its quality all along. The flavor includes some nice spice that is still under control and some hints of maple that do not overwhelm. It has a strong smokiness, but it is a nice quality. The flavors all balance well and some even stand out as being quite nice. This is a huge success that I will never buy at this price. The richness is exemplary, especially when combined with the sweetness. It reminds me of Blanton's a bit but also of Glenfarclas. This is a master class spirit. I still prefer Glenfarclas 25, but this is better than Blanton's by a sizable amount. This is less mineral in its flavor than the Wild Turkey 9 Festival Release is. In direct comparison, I'd say that the Weller wins for that reason. On their own, the Wild Turkey is delightful though. I can smell the maple and toffee in this (amidst the deep wood and smoke). The palate is rich with a beautifully balanced amount of spice. There is a bit of mineral and rye, but they are subdued. The caramel and maple show up in the beginning, but there absence on the finish isn't a problem. The spice is moderate in a perfectly balanced way. There is a good dose of vanilla, but not a tremendous amount of fruit. The fruit does shine through though. This is kind of toasty or perhaps roasted in a coffee way. There are some hints of apple and red fruit. Water enhances the flavor. This still falls a little shy of Glenfarclas 25, but it's just a little. This is a truly astounding bourbon. The flavor is definitely bitter due to the intense richness and smoke, but it's so tasty and has enough complexity that it's a delight to drink. At any level of water, this is still tasty, proving it's capability. The mineral and rye flavors that come out fit well even though they would normally be actively bad. With enough water added, the rye, mineral, and spice take over, making this a great but flawed drink; however, achieving excellence at all levels of water is way too much to ask. It isn't a perfect bourbon, but it's the closest I've encountered.