Lagavulin 8yo Straight From The Cask, Ex-Red Wine European Oak Cask

Welcome friends to my second review of my Lagavulin Warehouse Tasting Tour, this time, a younger whisky, one that is a living proof that age means nothing. This is an 8yo Straight From The Cask Lagavulin, served at 56%abv, drawn from an ex-red wine european oak cask. Of course this was also poured by the legend, Ian McArthur. On the nose, a wonderful experience. Coconut, tar; smells like a pond. Gooseberries; Lightly peated and lightly ashy. Grapefruits. The aroma is exactly as water with added salt to make gargles when you have a soar throat. It is like a vanilla cream dipped in an ashtray. The palate was just perfect. Coconut, grapefruit, pepper and ashes. Very elegant for a very young cask strength. Dim saltiness, everything well delivered. Aftertaste is simple but incredible. Beautiful Smokiness, ashes. It is like a bonfire on a cold night. Overall, this was quite surprising. It is amazing how an 8yo single malt can achieve this level of well delivered flavors and aromas. The palate and aftertaste were simply perfect. I am completely overwhelmed by it, my score for it is 96 over 100.