58,9°
Distillery : Laphroaig - Islay
American Ex-Bourbon Barrels and Quarter Casks, Pedro Ximénez Sherry Finish
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Malt
Bottled in 2021
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength
Peated around 43 ppm
Every year since 2008, the distillery has released a new edition of Càirdeas (which means 'friendship' in Gaelic) to celebrate Feis Ile. And every year, the number of bottles seems to increase. While the very first Batch was produced in 3600 bottles, this one has 32000. Over the years, John Campbell has stepped up his imagination to offer us different maturations, but here it's simply the PX Cask in cask strength.
Let's Taste It:
The nose is full-bodied, fruity, deep, almost floral. Coal and limestone. Blackcurrant, fig, chestnut, blueberry. The peat rises slowly. Fruit paste. It's luscious, with earth and red plums. Wood, liquorice. Pleasant, fine, grainy smoke. The Laphroaig profile comes next, nails, medicine, asphalt, burnt tyre. Gooseberry on the palate, quite suave, thick peat, spices, cumin, ginger, chilli. Liquorous. Honey, raspberry sponge cake. Powerful but not devastating finish, long, lignite, rock, Madeira, slush, amarena, crumpled bodywork. Iron filings. Wine lees.
In Short,
This is the 4th Càirdeas I've tasted and it's the best in my humble opinion. The previous ones were a little young and less well-balanced. This one is deep, very fruity, but the Laphroaig profile is not absent, on the contrary. It has to be said that I already really like the PX Cask, which is certainly my favourite Laphroaig NAS. So I'd recommend buying it, despite the rather high price.
Score : 89
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Mano Negra - Sidi H'Bibi
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