Lagavulin 12yo Straight From The Cask, Single Second Fill European oak Barrel

I have reached the most sacred place in whisky... I have set foot on the most significant land on the isle of Islay, at the one and only LAGAVULIN DISTILLERY. Arguably the King of Islay (let the internet backlash commence in the comments), Lagavulin was my initial favorite for peaty whiskies, and their 16-year-old expression has proven unassailable against any criticism. I've sampled many "Lagas" over the years, but now I'm here for the ultimate experience. Drawn from 4 remarkable casks, I'm about to taste some incredible Lagavulins. Did I mention the legendary Ian McArthur is pouring the whiskies? (He draws them from the cask with his mouth, which I believe enhances the experience, lol). My first Warehouse tasting was this 12-year-old, Straight from the Cask, from a single European oak barrel filled once, served at 51% ABV. On the nose, it's quite sweet! Brownies, chocolate, vanilla, hay. Less complex than other Lagavulins but very sweet. Lots of chocolate notes. Malted barley. On the palate, it's deliciously sweet. Chocolate milk, nice pepper. Extremely elegant vanilla and earthy notes. Gooseberries. The aftertaste is where the peat reveals itself: Smoke, tar, and all the wonderful elements of Lagavulin, herbal, bonfire. Overall, this was an immense dram to start the tour. I adored the sweet characteristic this whisky possesses; it combines beautifully with the peatiness. My rating for this beauty is 92 out of 100.

Tasted at Lagavulin with a pal!