Laphroaig Càirdeas 2012 Origin Edition

As I explore further back into the Laphroaig Feis Ile Cairdeas releases, I find the stories behind the bottles as captivating as the whisky itself. This is the 2012 edition, subtitled: Origin Edition. It's named to reflect the incorporation of components from the initial Cairdeas blends, aged 13-21 years in used bourbon barrels. The blend also includes 7-year-old quarter-casked spirit, forming the majority. Three thousand bottles were available on festival day, and today they are scarce, found only in auction houses. I've acquired two bottles recently; one cost $300 at auction, while the other I secured for $159 while most other bidders were distracted. It's bottled at 51.2% ABV and is neither chill-filtered nor colored. It appears light straw in the glass, forming rapid legs and thin droplets on the rim after swirling. The aroma is dominated by leather, adhesive bandages, and smoked bacon. A touch of raisin-like sweetness and eucalyptus/aloe gel creates an unusual funk, alongside earthy peat after resting in the glass. It wasn't excessively smoky, and everything seemed well-integrated and subdued. The younger spirit didn't overwhelm the older components, suggesting the blend ratios might have been closer to 50/50 than I initially thought. The palate presents classic Laphroaig characteristics: meaty smoke and bandaid funk, with earthy minerals. The higher alcohol content is remarkably well-concealed; it never feels hot. There was even an unexpected citrus and berry sweetness midway through the sip. It was truly mouth-watering and invigorating. The finish was long, smoky, and leathery, with a lingering zest. I had to clear the medicinal notes with water after several minutes, feeling like I had a used bandaid on my tongue after 10-15 minutes – I really wanted that taste gone by then, haha. Overall, I appreciate that this bottle contains some very mature Laphroaig. It makes one consider how, before the current whisky boom, distilleries were more generous with older releases, aiming for quality without anticipating the massive markups possible by aging them longer. That same 21-year-old whisky could have been bottled as a single malt in 2018 as a 27-year-old with a $650 price tag. While this Cairdeas isn't experimental, it's an excellent example of Laphroaig, demonstrating their respect and affection for their whisky aficionados. This receives a 4.25 rating, bumped slightly for containing two-decade-old spirit. A 4.5-star rating. If you're a devoted Laphroaig fan, like myself, do yourself a favor: save up and seek out these older Feis Ile bottles. They are truly excellent and have compelling stories. Cheers, my friends.

This is the most mature of the Cairdeas series I've tried so far, dating back to my law school graduation during a time when my only scotch was Black Label. While more recent versions of this annual series have celebrated different finishing techniques, especially various sweet or dessert wine finishes, this Cairdeas seems quite distinct. It focuses on the fundamental Laphroaig flavors while adding a unique twist. The most prominent note on the nose is, naturally, smoke, but there's a lingering scent of sweet honey-roasted peanuts, reminiscent of the nut vendors on New York's Broadway. The palate is briny, has a sharp, zesty lemon note, and also includes creamy, nutty flavors. Pine nuts might be what I'm detecting. The finish is warming, smoky, long like any Laphroaig, and has a hint of tropical fruits. This is a pleasant one, deserving of its place in the series. Will I ever find a Cairdeas I don't enjoy? Given it's Laphroaig, probably not.

Another delight pulled from the sample collection, this is the most mature Cairdeas I have sampled so far. The aroma is exceptional: warm apricots and plums, heather, aged books, smoked meats, and a hint of mint. In the mouth, there's spicy peat, menthol, sweet raisins, and a subtle chocolate note. So far, superb. The only aspect that reduces its rating for me is the dry tannins in the finish, which is otherwise lengthy and spicy. That oak character is the signature of the quarter casks and the one characteristic of Laphroaig stock that I don't particularly favor. Whenever I encounter it in Laphroaig, I find it overpowers the finish and disrupts the experience that came before. If you appreciate that, then this is a five-star whisky. For my palate, it's simply great.

Aroma of peat and juniper. Notes of ash and sandalwood, with a touch of vanilla. Glad I had the chance to sample this.