After leading with cedar, the nose shifts decidedly to dessert with dried strawberries and raspberry jam. A little dark chocolate and oak join the party along with crushed cloves and allspice berries. On the palate, this presents more powerfully than its 126.7 proof suggests. It’s dark, deep and complex leading with charred oak, cooked red fruits, baking spice, cigar leaf and bitter chocolate.

The nose leads with a rush of floral and candied aromas followed by white pepper, rye spice and a little clover honey. Toasted oak leads on the palate before spice notes become more honeyed. Toasted marshmallow and campfire hint that chocolate might arrive, but not in abundance. Darker notes like raisins and prunes interwoven with ground cinnamon makes this more pie-like and old fashioned cocktail ready.

An array of fruit on the nose presents as Juicy Fruit Gum and fruit pastry. Quickly, aromas shift to white pepper, rye grain and oak. Fruit and spice transition to the palate alongside vivid baking spice, peppermint, honey and toasted oak. This whiskey punches well above its 123 proof, which means slow sipping is recommended and decadent cocktails are encouraged.

Thanks to its powerful proof, the nose is big and bossy before softening some toward honey, yellow apple and golden raisins before darkening to cured tobacco and campfire. The palate is rich and slightly viscous, and flavored with dried figs, chocolate-covered cherries and cigar leaf. Drink this neat (sip slowly!), over ice or in a decadent old fashioned or boulevardier cocktail.