Ardbeg 9yo Single Manzanilla Cask, Distillery Exclusive

Have you ever tasted a million dollar whisky? Well, i kinda have. I have arrived to Ardbeg distillery, one of my favorites, to reach my landmark, 1000 whisky reviews. I never imagined that No. 998 was going to be a 9yo dram, that was drawn from a cask that if you would like to buy it (the whole barrel), you'll have to write a check for the amount of money Dr. Evil has dreamt about in every Austin Powers movie. Drawn from the barrel at 60% abv, this is a 9yo single Manzanilla cask. This will never be bottled as a single cask, this will be blended with other casks. That is what they told us in the tour. On the nose, a lovely scottish shortbread, biscuits with filling. It smells exactly like salmon, this is actually "fishy" in a lovely way. I can only describe this as cotton candy with codfish. Milka caramel chocolate. THIS IS AN INSANE AROMA. After a first sip, it released Lindt chocolate. Incredible stuff. I want to inyect this chocolate in my veins. On the palate, it is the most bitter and darker Chocolate ever. Crazy good. Starts creamy and oily, then explodes in saltiness. Chocolate madness, with a sonic boom of sulphuric saltiness. Chocolate caramel. Aftertaste is all about smoke and elegant tar, if such things exists. Crazy notes of fresh can tennis balls, nerf toys, foam toys and rubber. New shoes. Silicium. Overall, this is the craziest Ardbeg i have ever had and that is quite a bold statement to make. Incredible interesting, sweet and peaty notes. I try not to feel influenced by the price of the cask, but this is by far the most expensive whisky i have tasted, or maybe not, since a bottle of this might be just a couple thousands if i divide it mathematically. Leaving the price aside, it was wonderful and it has gained a perfect 100 in my books. Slàinte!!