Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 51.8%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex Bourbon First Fill and ex-Sherry Fino
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Suntory
Average price: € 200.00
Official website: www.laphroaig.com
Vote: 89/100
An annual series celebrating Fèis Ìle since 2008, where Càirdeas means “friendship” in Gaelic, selected by master distiller John Campbell exclusively for the Friends of Laphroaig.
Each edition differs from the previous one in its finish and ageing, so you will never find yourself with a bottle that is the same as the next, and always gets a lot of interest from enthusiasts.
As always, here’s the full list of the series:
2008 Càirdeas – ex-Sherry, 55%ABV;
2009 Feis Ila – ex-Bourbon, 57.5%ABV;
2010 Master Edition – ex-Bourbon Hogsheads, 57.3%ABV;
2011 Ileach – ex-bourbon, 50.5%ABV;
2012 Origin – ex-Quarter Casks and ex-Bourbon Refill Casks, 51.2%ABV;
2013 Port Wood Edition – ex-Bourbon finished in ex-Port barrels, 51.3%ABV;
2014 Bottled 2014 – ex-Bourbon First Fill finished in ex-Sherry Amontillado Hogsheads, 51.4%,ABV;
2015 200th Anniversary Edition – ex-Bourbon, 51.5%ABV (special edition for the bicentennial);
2016 Madeira Cask – ex-Bourbon finished in ex-Madeira Hogsheads, 51.6%ABV;
2017 Cask Strength Quarter Cask – ex-Bourbon First Fill from Maker’s Mark finished in Quarter Casks ex-Bourbon, 57.2%ABV;
2018 Fino Cask Finish – ex-Bourbon First Fill finished in ex-Sherry Fino, 51.8%ABV;
2019 Triple Wood – ex-Bourbon, Quarter Cask and finished in ex-Oloroso Sherry, 59.5%ABV;
2020 Port & Wine Casks – ex-Bourbon, ex-Ruby Port and ex-Red Wine, 52%ABV;
2021 Pedro Ximénez Casks – ex-Bourbon, ex-quarter cask and ex-Sherry PX, cask strength at 58.9%ABV.
2022 Warehouse 1 – ex-Bourbon first fill, 52.2%ABV
2023 White Port & Madeira Casks – ex-Madeira second fill and ex-White Port first fill, 52.3%ABV
Tasting notes
Light amber in the glass.
The nose presents itself with a fleshy and unusually herbaceous peat profile, fresh, which actually leaves me a bit puzzled. Melon, pear, orange juice and lemon peel contribute to maintaining the pleasantness of the aromas, together with marzipan, cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg. Truly captivating.
On the palate, peat and alcohol become more pressing, the medicinal spirit emerges on notes of barbecue smoke with a nice peppery edge, while a savoury marine side mingles with the fruity hints in a fun sweet/savoury contrast, where dried apricots, sultanas, hazelnuts and vanilla move from toasty to salty in a spicy breading. Dry firewood in the background.
Long finish, of used ashtray, sea, pear, hazelnuts, wood.
A hilarious, different Laphroaig, where the peat remains the protagonist leaving room for the sweeter aspects of the finish without them clashing with each other, with the balance of aromas and impressions really excellent.