Laphroaig Brodir

This represents Laphroaig's effort to elevate their port wine finishing. It's a travel retail exclusive that's currently in its second batch. The initial release was in 2012 and preceded their outstanding 2013 Cairdeas bottling, which has become highly sought after over the past few years. In an attempt to recapture that success, Laphroaig reissued this bottle hoping for a return to form. However, this one falls significantly short. It's bottled at 48%, is non-chill filtered, and contains no added color. The color itself is quite striking: orange/amber. It appears oily, leaving numerous droplets around the upper rim when swirled in a Glencairn glass. Very few legs form. The nose offers sweet port wine, light grapes, and honey with a rather subdued smoke level. There are minimal wood or alcohol notes present, even after 20-25 minutes. The palate mirrors this: light vine fruits with hints of smoke, but it's juicier than most Laphroaigs I've encountered. It feels less oily and more watery. The presence of young malt is discernible, but the port flavors effectively mask any harshness. The overall mouthfeel ends up being somewhat thin. The 2013 Cairdeas Port did not exhibit these issues, nor did batch 1 of this Brodir, according to reports. Unfortunately, batch 1 bottles are even rarer than the Cairdeas version. The finish continues the theme of restraint. Smoke levels are lower than typically expected from The Frog, but it is genuinely fruity with a medium-length, lingering sweet conclusion. Overall, I had high hopes and wished it would be a suitable successor to the 2013 Cairdeas, but it falls short, particularly given the $107 price point. If you were fortunate enough to experience the 2013 Cairdeas and were impressed by its brilliance, you'll find this to be more of a tease than the genuine article. It's still very drinkable, but I continue my search for that elusive Cairdeas. I'd rate the Brodir between 3.75 and 4 stars. Cheers.

Laphroaig tasting event, Sydney, September 26, 2018. Whiskey #6. Nose: Rose and honey. Raisins stewed in port and brandy - a substantial and full aroma. Strong port wine, nearly like port wine jelly. The smoke is subdued but present, as is a trace of the characteristic Laphroaig iodine, though it's masked. A deep, musky note with a hint of oak lies behind everything. Palate: Arrives velvety smooth. Abundant raisins and smoke, strawberry compote, blackberry jam, orange syrup, rancio. A rather thick texture, but not oily. It's flavorful but leans towards boastful and heavy-handed. Finish: Medium. Smoke lingers in the finish. It presents a boldly sweet nose, and the port finish initially conceals the smoke. Peat smoke is present, however, as a powerful base, and once it begins to reveal itself, it continues to emerge. Unlike many smoky whiskies, there is no hint of a plastic-peat note here whatsoever. During my initial tasting, I found this whisky agreeably sweet, friendly, and easy to drink, but with each subsequent smell and sip, it became slightly less captivating. Something about the profile didn't resonate with me, and eventually, I realized I couldn't detect any distillery character in this whisky at all. The dominant port finish masks everything, and the Laphroaig heritage is entirely absent - this could be a smoky distillate from any distillery. There was an exceptional port-finished Cairdeas a few years ago – lively, balanced, and complex. This comes across as a less skillful rendition of that. It is well-crafted, but I can't imagine purchasing a bottle, especially considering the price. "Above Average": 82/100 (3.25 stars)

Getting an early start on the bonus samples for round 6 of the SDT with this travel retail exclusive Laphroaig provided by a friend. Brodir is the brother of the PX Cask but finished in port wood vs PX. Bottled at 48% ABV and is non-chill filtered and natural color of a beautiful ruby red with a purplish hue. The nose is sweet, fruity, wine-drenched peat. Great classic Laphroaig notes. Smoke, bandages, iodine, campfire ashes, rubber, and tennis balls. Sweet wine notes, mixed berry jam, grapes, plums. Maritime notes, seashore, salty sea spray, mineral-like seashells. Wine-soaked oak, a touch of eucalyptus. Berry pie, very confectionary towards the end with a hint of pink bubblegum. A very good nose indeed. The palate is SLIGHTLY less engaging. Strong peat smoke and bonfire ashes. Oak, black pepper. Sweet, berries, grapes, and a light tobacco. More smoke and candy sweet. I started enjoying this a little too much for any further analytics, so let’s just say it’s damn good. Medium to full-bodied with a light oiliness, mouth-coating, and dry. The finish is long, smoky, sweet, earthy, and meaty. This is great stuff. The better-looking fraternal twin of the PX Cask that gets all the attention from the girls in high school. If I see a bottle at duty-free, I will be sure to grab one. If this is the lesser version of the 2013 Cairdeas, then I will have to pester a friend into finding another bottle to open so I can have a taste! A solid 4.5 Cheers

While Laphroaig never disappoints, this bottling feels like "more of the same" despite a pleasant sweetness. The signature Laphroaig peat can sometimes overshadow other flavors, and even as a peat enthusiast, I sometimes wish there was more depth. Brodir signifies "brother" in Norse, and it was aged in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in ruby port casks. Bottled at 48% ABV, tawny color. On the nose: immediate tobacco and grass. Brown sugar, orange candy, and perfumed peat. Burnt grass. A dense sweetness lies beneath a peat haze/layer. After 5 minutes, an iodine and very medicinal aroma emerges. All sweetness disappears after a while. Cigarette smoke. After the initial taste, some vanilla and burnt hay. Despite these notes, it's not particularly appealing on the nose, though not unpleasant or off-putting. On the palate, the first taste is very sulphuric. Orange notes on the mouth's sides but a very raw flavor on the first sip. The second sip was much sweeter and refined; hints of oranges and brown sugar. Cough syrup. (I'm quite fond of it). Aftertaste has a pleasant smoky finish. Salty and oak spice, quite nice. Pleasant wisps of smoke. Not the best Laphroaig, but it fulfills its purpose. I would have expected significantly more complexity for a 48% ABV. The sweetness is very dense and refined due to the use of ruby port casks. My rating: 85 out of 100.

It's Friday after Thanksgiving. As a huge Beatles enthusiast, I'm thrilled to finally be watching the eagerly awaited Get Back series. With ample free time, it's the perfect moment for a dram. A delicate, sweet peat. Not the bold, in-your-face Laphroaig. Quite enjoyable. Imagine an open fire on a beach during a cloudy autumn afternoon; that's the imagery this evokes for me. Incorporate artificial grape, dark honey, and raisins. Now, picture smelling this while holding an old, damp library book. A musty undertone exists beneath the more prominent scents. Very satisfying. The palate reveals that Laphroaig ashy-tobacco foundation supporting the other flavors. Fruity sweetness. Welch's Grape jam, raisins, plums, a frosted strawberry Pop Tart. Black pepper and brine add a spicy earthiness to the spirit. All presented with a thin yet creamy texture. The finish is long and ashy, with an earthy character that seems to last indefinitely, accompanied by a soft, jammy sweetness. If you appreciate peaty sweetness, this will meet your desires. It's very sippable and doesn't feel like 48% ABV. To me, it's comparable to Kilchoman Sanig, but a bit sweeter. It's quite good, but something is missing to elevate it to the top tier. Sanig offers similar enjoyment at roughly half the price. Thank you for the sample. I finally got around to opening it. [90/100][Tasted: 11/26/21]

Review for Brodir Batch 3 (the final batch). Having previously sampled Brodir batch 2 and Cairdeas 2013, I was already aware of how exceptional port-finished Laphroaig can be. Thus, I eagerly acquired the new and final batch. (I believe it will be succeeded by a new expression simply named “Laphroaig Port Wood”). The initial distinction I notice from batch 2 is the color. While it possesses the expected pinkish hue from a ruby port finish, it's less pronounced than in the prior batch, likely indicating a shorter finishing period in the port casks. On the (fantastic) nose, there are red berries and campfire smoke, similar to the previous one, but also vanilla sweetness and honey. It's delicious and seems more integrated overall this time. I truly love it! On the palate, the campfire smoke transforms into an ashy peat explosion with an underlying sweetness. Unexpected, but in a positive way. The finish introduces numerous barrel spices, which, along with the peat, seem to linger indefinitely in your mouth. I preferred it to batch 2, as it's a more balanced whisky overall, but if memory serves, it's not superior to Cairdeas 2013, which remains the pinnacle of Laphroaig in my opinion. Truly excellent! Glad I decided to purchase this one. A five-star rating.