Is this the best Lagavulin release? No, of course not. But it has some unique notes not often found in Lagavulin, while still keeping its core profile. It's cask strength, has a beautiful illustration on the bottle and packaging, and isn't really out of the normal price range that the brand's regular offerings encompass. It's time for us drinkers to stop comparing modern releases and prices to the Golden age of yesteryear. If you can already afford Lagavulin 16 at today's prices, you'd do well to grab a bottle of this while you can. We can be discerning to avoid getting ripped off, without completely unfair comparisons to a time when whisky was cheaper across the board. If you're going to get a 2022 special release whisky, this is probably at the top.