As a survivor of a number of whiskey tastings gone wrong, I was hesitant to purchase a bottle of Mike's spirits without a prior drink. But then a delivery came to the cabin for my birthday, a bottle of 90 proof Tennessee Whiskey from Knoble. As I held that bottle, my mouth began to water, but my brain took me back to those flights of questionable quality. I tempered any negative feelings with all the positive vibes Mike has put forth during his career. So it was, a couple of ounces in my glass, sat in my favorite chair, a good sniff to prepare myself, and I took a sip. It was very bright on the tongue and did not cause my throat to tighten like so many others. It went down very smooth with a pleasant aftertaste and a bit of blossom in the nose. Very enjoyable, so much so, I had a second one. I will not argue flavors and notes as everyone's palate is different, but if you want a smooth, satisfying, straight up drink I can enthusiastically suggest the Tennessee Whisky. I will be visiting Baltimore for the Fourth and hope to score a bottle of Knobel Rye, stay tuned...