Lagavulin 8 Year

@ Del Frisco's in NYC with Alexis Li

I must commend Lagavulin for giving this 200th Anniversary bottling an honest age statement instead of opting for NAS! Fresh and vibrant notes of sea salt, smoked cheese and gentle, earthy peatiness greet the nose, followed by anise, sweet berries and traces of diesel oil. Tasting pure and entirely spirit-driven (8 years!), this single malt features a convincing simplicity: crisp apples, roasted peanuts and creamy honey are buried under a thick layer of dry ash. The lasting finish bids farewell with pickled ginger, salt sticks and a dash of sucrose. A true delight! RATING: 4.2/5.0 stars ≙ 89 pts → FIRST-CLASS [+]