I'll cut to the chase: this is tasty, has a good bit more alcohol punch than expected for 91 proof, and at $42 there are bottles much better. But is it bad? No, just not a recommended buy. Nose: Light, gentle sweetness with a little corn and floral notes. Hint of the ethanol to come is present and makes you recoil a little. Palate: a whole lot of barrel spice that really bites and dries. Decent mouth feel, but the ethanol sting really prevents you from being able to enjoy it. Sweetness of the corn and caramel is definitely there, but not balanced enough with the spice to really enjoy neat. Finish: start of the finish is ethanol heat and heavy spice, followed by a good dose of caramel and a really quite nice oaky finish. I just can't get over how hot it drinks for the proof, tasted blind I would call it closer to 105 proof range. If it tasted like this at 105, it would get that extra half star, but alas it seems Blade and Bow is too happy to rest on the laurels of the Stitzel-Weller name than just make their juice a little better/older. Instead of this, reach for a FAR cheaper Early Times BIB (same sweet flavor profile and ethanol bite, just less oak on the finish), or for the same price and much better juice and instead get 4 Roses Single Barrel or Wild Turkey Rare breed. The 4R SiB really captures the same barrel spice and aged oak, but executes it much better overall, and especially on the nose. Heck, even reach for a cheaper Russel's Reserve 10 year for a similar profile at a cheaper price; the two are very similar.