Why does Everclear hit so different?

I’ve drink semi-regularly. Enough so that I can drink most spirits straight (sometimes with a chaser). I’ve been mainly drinking vodka, but my younger roommate thought he was a hero and decided to get some Everclear. He hated it as expected. He ended up giving me the bottle. Here’s the thing, it’s much higher proof than the vodka I’ve been normally drinking, but the taste is decidedly better (or lack of taste rather), and it seems to hit me much slower than you’d think. Also I’ve tried it neat and it’s not as terrible as people make it out to be. Am I broken?