The nose is rich with corn, caramel and vanilla. Pretty typical, but wait 5 mins and baking spice and citrus begin to creep out. Up front there is an explosion of flavour on the palate, starting with musty corn, but changing quick to leather notes and then tobacco with spices. All of this is wrapped in an oily blanket that delivers some heat.. far more then the proof would have you believe. Finish is also longer then expected, giving you time to experience the barrel.. first with some vanilla notes and then more dry tannins. That dryness does make you feel like you need a drink of water though, and of course you don’t have one, so another sip of Blantons it is. Well played sir, well played.