It hasn’t even been a full year since we gave you an exclusive first look at Blade and Bow’s oldest bourbon ever . That 30-year-old offering was stripped from shelves rather swiftly despite its hefty $1200 price tag. Now the Louisville-based brand is preparing something even heftier, and we’ve got yet another sneak peek. This time, it’s a preview of what will be one of the priciest and proof-iest American whiskeys of the year: Blade and Bow 30-Year-Old Cask Strength.

As the name implies—and as is legally required of anything bearing the title —this release was bottled straight from the barrel, without any significant dilution. This explains its supernatural strength of 82.1 percent ABV, which is well in the “hazmat” whiskey territory. But that extreme metric belies a liquid that’s incredibly rich and utterly evocative. It bites but never burns. Immediately upon uncorking, it struts with force towards your nostrils, surrendering notes of bergamot, dark berry fruit, and singed cedar.…