Lagavulin 11 Year Sweet Peat

Glass: Glencairn, rested 15 minutes. Color: Light amber. Nose: Smoke with some mellow fruit undertones. Palate: Smooth, viscous texture with dominant smoke and brine. Finish: Extended duration with moderate warmth. Splash: No additional tastes emerge. Overall: 7.5/10 - After a dry spell from being on standby constantly for my job, I was really looking forward to opening this new Lagavulin. It's surprising that no one has reviewed it yet, making me the first. I'll do my best to give it a fair assessment. This was opened shortly after purchasing it on Superbowl Sunday, but I couldn't sample it until now. I expect the flavors will develop further, so this is just my first take. As I progress through my glass, the smooth texture and lengthy finish are impressive enough to raise my score from 7.5 to 8.5. This is a great drink that I might score even better on a future tasting. The only potential drawback is the absence of a sweeter sherry cask finish, but there are numerous sherry-finished Islays available. Well done to Lagavulin for using only ex-bourbon barrels for this bottling.