Nose reminds me of grandma's fruit cake when puts a little to much happy juice in it. Both sweet and very heavy alcohol burn. Vanilla and dark fruit/wine like upfront on the tongue followed by heavy char and ethanol all the down. Lasting spice on the tongue. If you like burn and lingering spice you will like this. It did take a while for the sweeter notes to show on the front of the tongue. Flavor does get better over time. Water does not help in my opinion.