This smells rich, woody, fruity (dark cherry), and a little like toffee. Essentially, it smells quite like Delord 1981. The flavor is rich and balanced with plenty of wood and dark cherry backed by a sharp bitterness. It's that sharpness to the bitterness that is the problem: this fascade tastes better than that of the Flagship, but it still tastes like old flavors are covering weak, young ones. This is no substitute for Delord 1981 despite its higher ABV, but it is pretty good. There's some alcohol coming through in the bitterness, but there's also rich coffee and chocolate. The amount of spice is just about right. The vanilla mixed nicely with the cherry and the minor minerals do not take over. It needs more complexity and richness, but it falls just on the right side of the sipper range. I enjoy this drink, but it wouldn't be my first choice given how weak and shallow it is. If it could solve one of those problems, it would gain a few points and move solidly into the great range.