Laphroaig Càirdeas 2017 Cask Strength Quarter Cask Edition

Earlier this year, I finished a bottle of the standard Quarter Cask, which was excellent in its own right. Now, introducing the 2017 Cairdeas edition. As a fan of cask strength whisky, I was immediately interested when a friend mentioned this one, anticipating the Quarter Cask amplified. Let's dive in. Nose: It's clearly recognizable as part of the Quarter Cask line. Intense campfire smoke, iodine, salt, seaweed, ash, sulfur, and damp wood. A powerful maritime character. It directly mirrors my notes from the QC review. As expected, I detect vanilla, malt, lemon, orange, pepper, coconut, and almond. A prominent chestnut note. Following all this, a strong wave of cinnamon heat overwhelms my senses. This has the aroma of a true cask strength Islay. Essentially, it's the standard QC elevated significantly, just as anticipated. Fantastic. Palate: This begins as a medicinal, maritime peat powerhouse. More smoke and iodine, combined with seaweed and salt. It's simultaneously herbaceous and vegetal, with spearmint and fresh spinach notes. Smoked meats with black pepper and chili. As the palate develops, it becomes considerably sweeter. Honey, vanilla, toffee, apple, and white chocolate. Lemon and grapefruit. Peppermint. Towards the end, it shifts to richer, darker sweet notes of dark chocolate and cocoa. If I don't stop now, this will go on forever. There's an incredible amount happening, and it's all hitting the mark. Finish: This is a true powerhouse. It lasts for ages. Shortly after pouring, the finish is all about campfire smoke, sulfur, seaweed, and sea salt. Then it returns to spice. Chili, red pepper, black pepper, and cinnamon. The high ABV is present in the best way. After more than 30 minutes, the peat and smoke give way to sweeter notes. Some of the chocolate, vanilla, and honey sweetness carry over from the palate. The spicy notes continue to dominate. The evolution of this whisky over time is astonishing. Excellent. I compared this to the standard QC multiple times for obvious reasons. This is a prime example of a great whisky reaching new heights when bottled at cask strength. In fact, I'd say it perfectly embodies this phenomenon. Intense Islay character? Yes. Cask strength? Yes. Remarkable complexity? Yes. Reasonably priced? Yes, again. I managed to get the last bottle, and I'm glad I did. It has since been replaced by the 2018 Fino Cask, which I'm eager to try. I started as a fan of Laphroaig and now I'm a devoted follower of the esteemed Cairdeas line. Thanks to a friend for alerting me to this one. An absolute must-purchase if you can still find it. Simply magnificent.

This evaluation of the 2017 Cairdeas comes from a sample provided by a friend, and it's my first review of 2018. For this year's release, Laphroaig opted for a cask strength version of their well-loved Quarter Cask. Bottled at 57.2% ABV, it is undeniably non chill filtered and possesses natural color. This presents a brilliant golden straw hue. The aroma carries all the hallmark Laphroaig characteristics. Medicinal notes of iodine and bandages, but more pronounced. Tar, asphalt, cold ashes, soot, and smoke from a bonfire extinguished with seawater. Brine, seaweed, and the scent of salty sea air. It also has a sweet and fruity quality. Vanilla, dried apricots, almonds, and marzipan. Smooth, sanded oak and sawdust. Vanilla buttercream and custard. Caramel apples with a hint of menthol. After some time, subtle sherry notes emerge. Adding a little water reveals a citrusy note and enhances the oak and ginger. A warm initial taste on the palate. Oaky at first, but the peat quickly dominates in the form of smoke and ashes. There's an overall fruity sweetness, but at cask strength, I'm struggling to identify those fruits. The oak returns strongly, akin to chewing on a wood chip soaked in bourbon and scotch. Vanilla and some toffee. Pepper and considerable spice. Water brings out more vanilla and custard, but otherwise has little effect unless a substantial amount is added, which dulls the palate. A full-bodied mouthfeel, very slick and mouthwatering. The finish is long, spicy, oaky, medicinal, and dry. I'm somewhat conflicted about this one. It's Laphroaig, my initial affection for scotch, and the QC was my first Islay experience, but this is just too potent for me to enjoy neat. 48% seems to be the optimal strength for this whisky, and adding over 9% didn't significantly improve it. Water helped, but I dislike the necessity of water when savoring a dram. Nevertheless, it's Laphroaig, and I can't fault them. A solid 4. My thanks again for the generous sample, my friend. Cheers

Cask Strength Laphroaig in a different barrel, okay, I'll give it a try. Nose - Alcohol, peat, cream, coconut water, and a bit of young new make spirit. I'm a little concerned, but at the same time, nothing is sharp or offensive; it's just youthful, and the abv is high. Maybe we'll be alright. Also getting some spearmint, oak tannins, vanilla, and the very medicinal characteristic of Laphroaig. Taste - This quarter cask is a flavor explosion. I detect citrus, vanilla, pine, spearmint, very slightly soured oak, coconut, and, as I often find in younger Islay whiskies, some aspartame. Then we have a nice long finish of medical supplies, lingering classic peat, rubber, ash, artificial vanilla candy, and this is different but waxy cigarette smoke. So, let me take a step back. I actually really enjoy just drinking this. It's not my favorite, and it's not one I'll buy again, but I like it. However, when I focus on the notes and try to discern them, I'm not loving it. It is young, and offensively so in some ways. But it's also good in many other ways. It's a whisky to just drink and to get a unique perspective on high abv and peat. I believe that's the intention, and it achieves that well. Anyway, I'm not the biggest fan of CS Laphroaig until you get into the older expressions. So keep that in mind, but I'm giving this a 2.0. This is very average whisky expertly crafted for a niche audience that wants peat to hit them hard, abv to kick them, and then they want a different cask maturation for a new twist on it. For that group, this will be outstanding, and frankly, I would choose this over the Triple Wood and regular 10 CS if I were in that category, just because I think this one is a bit more unique. For me, I still prefer the Fino, which I don't think is CS, but I do believe it is more complex, nuanced, and simply a better whisky... but it's not a better shot to the gut.

This bottle has been open for 4 months, and I finally finished it to write this review. It's not that I dislike it and don't want to compromise my frequently stated appreciation for Laphroaig. It's not that I love it and was waiting for the right words to describe such excellence. The reality is, I wasn't sure what to think of it, or how to articulate the flavors. The aroma is so intense that I only detect alcohol and smoke, with nothing else. This doesn't change with time or evolve in any discernible way. The palate also starts intense, but the coarse dryness complements the dominant peat smoke, as if one were chewing charcoal (or consuming the extremely overcooked skin of a hotdog cooked directly in the fire for an excessive duration). While I find it enjoyable, it's also very one-dimensional, which is quite unlike Laphroaig. After several small sips and careful consideration, I can perceive hints of iodine and seaweed, with the faintest touch of salinity, before it concludes with more heat, grit, and smoke. Adding water slightly reduces the intensity but doesn't significantly alter the aroma or palate. I don't object to the NAS trend because if a whisky is enjoyable, its age is irrelevant. However, this isn't as good as it could (or should?) be, and would have benefited from more time in the barrel. I'd choose the standard 10 CS over this any day.

Let the bagpipes play, I am reviewing this beauty. Each year, Laphroaig offers a special "Cairdeas" release, and I was fortunate enough to experience the 2017, cask strength version. On Saturday, I traveled to New Jersey for my whisky ambassador certification and an advanced whisky production course. My instructor, after the exam, complimented my performance (OBVIOUSLY, WHEN THE SUBJECT IS WHISKY) and shared a bottle from his personal collection; this Laphroaig Cairdeas 2017, which I believe was a gift. Bottled at 57.2% ABV, it has a yellowish-gold color, not dark but not typical for whiskies. Nose: Pleasant but not perfect. It has the typical Laphroaig peat, toffee, pepper, a fresh can of tennis balls (a Laphroaig signature), and bonfire smoke. (23/25) Palate: Absolutely outstanding. A true gem. Vanilla, toffee with a pleasing and balanced explosion of pepper, hot sand, and vanilla cupcake. It might be a bit straightforward, but it's delicious. Perfect score here. Finish: Quite an experience. Sand, toffee, pepper, peat (that medicinal/artificial peat characteristic of Laphroaig), and bonfire smoke. Perhaps even gunpowder. Amazing. Overall, this well-balanced dram, which is delicious, sweet, peppery, spicy, and peaty, is a must-try. (95/100) I highly recommend it. Cheers!

This was the biggest disappointment of the evening, despite tasting eleven whiskies total. It wasn't the absolute worst, but expectations for this one were extremely high. Revisiting it today, my perspective has completely shifted. Perhaps my palate was fatigued from the previous ten whiskies tasted the day before (this was the last one), or maybe it had a chance to breathe, or possibly today I'm tasting solo and uninfluenced by friends' opinions. The aroma offers notes of smoked pork with a sweet vanilla undertone. It's reminiscent of Rauchbier, which I absolutely adore, presenting a subtle yet delightful scent. There's no noticeable alcohol burn, even with the 57.2% ABV. On the palate, the peat makes a strong entrance alongside considerable barrel spices, but as a fan of Talisker, I welcome a bit of spice! There's a touch of citrus sweetness in the background. The finish is spicy and endures for a while... Yes, I enjoy it! I still don't believe it warrants the 94 rating and 'whisky of the year' accolades it received from the APP, but it's certainly not a letdown. A solid 90 points from me, and my rating has gone from 3 to 4 stars. Cheers!