Review #504; Scotch #174: Laphroaig Cairdeas 2015

This is the Cairdeas released in 2015 from Laphroaig celebrating their 200th anniversary. This offering is a bit different, as in celebration of that anniversary; Laphroaig used 100% of their own floor malted barley and aged it entirely in their Warehouse #1 next to the ocean. Other Laphroaig offerings usually have 20% of their own floor malting in it. This one was also not finished, being aged entirely in ex-bourbon barrels before being bottled, and was aged for close to 12 years. This bottling had no color added and was non-chill filtered.

ABV: 51.5%

Nose: Medicinal, iodine, lemon pledge wipes, rotting vegetation, hay, vanilla, oak spice, brine.

Palate: Medium oily mouthfeel. Medicinal iodine, lemon zest, rotting vegetation, vanilla cream, black pepper, brine.

Finish: Medium length finish. Warm, Black pepper, lemon zest, rotting vegetation, vanilla, hay, light earthiness, iodine, brine.

Rating: 8/10

I am pretty biased as I tend to like Laphroaig, but this one is spectacular. Tons of flavor, strong peat and lemon zest, a nice cream vanilla underneath it, with some spices to tie it all together. I am not sure what effect the different methods they used had on this offering, but it is spectacular and delicious.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect


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