Tastes

Since i really really loved the Laphroaig Cairdeas 2017 cask strength, i bought that one and it came with this 2018 cairdeas Fino cask expression, which is a very good dram, but inferior to the 2017 one. Fino is a type of sherry but a white wine sherry (¿?) Which tends to be more tropical just as white wine. Bottled at 51.8% amber color. On the nose: Bonfire, Lemon, Burnt hay, Grapefruit, Citric and peat. Pure peat. Gun powder; Toffee very dim; Sea food. Shells. Oysters. On the palate, Grapefruit, Ashes, Mint and Oysters. It has an Earthy - beachy profile. Aftertaste is medium long, with a mixture of spices: Smoke, Sulphur, Salt, Pepper and Wasabi. Overall this is a very enjoyable dram, you dont feel the 51.8%abv anywhere, but it seems like it lacks "that certain something" to step up and become not just a good whisky, but a great one. 89/100.

Laphroaig is doing some great whiskies lately. Well, they have always made great whiskies to be fair. This one is no exception, and it is really, really enjoyable. This "four oak" expression is matured in... well... four types of oak barrels: ex-bourbon barrels, quarter casks, virgin american oak and european oak hogsheads. The result was a very easy drinkable Laphroaig (if that such thing ever exists). Bottled at 40%abv (that is rare for a laphroaig) with an amber color. Well, on the nose it is what you expect from this distillery: some earthy peat, fresh can of tennis balls, dirt, heather, a lot of nice smelling oak, seaweed, burnt plastic, sawdust and... Ok, maybe this is embarrasing but this one has an aroma of the rubber from the head of a He-Man toy. If you ever had one, you will know what i am talking about. It is that exact aroma. Actually pretty interesting. On the palate is just delicious. Starts super powerful for a 40%abv whisky, smoke puffs, ashes, cigarrettes and some incredibly sweet toffee note. Actually the balance on this flavors in the palate was amazing. Its sweet but peaty. But not everything was gold. Aftertaste is very, very short :( The aftertaste notes are pepper, bonfire and ashes. But it is way too short to get this whisky a remarkable score. Overall i give it an 88 over 100 and i think this is super enjoyable and highly recommendable. Slainte!

Start playing the bag pipes, i am reviewing this beauty. Every year, Laphroaig releases a special " Cairdeas" expression, and lucky me got to try the 2017, cask strength expression. On saturday i traveled to New Jersey to certify myself as a whisky ambassador and to certify myself in an advanced Whisky production course. My teacher after exam told me i was a good student (OBVIOUSLY WHEN THE SUBJECT IS WHISKY) And took out one of his private bottles; this Laphroaig Cairdeas 2017, which i believe he got as a present. Bottled at 57.2%abv, this one has a yellowish gold color, not dark but not common in whiskies. On the nose it was good but not perfect, laphroaig typical Peat, Toffee, Pepper, fresh can of tennis balls (a laphroaig trademark) and Bonfire. 23/25. On the palate it was simply outstanding. Such a jewel. Vanilla, Toffee with a pleasant and balanced Pepper bomb, hot Sand and vanilla Cupcake. It might be a little straightforward but delicious. Perfect score here. The aftertaste was quite the experience, sand, toffee, pepper, peat (that medicinal / artificial peat from laphroaig) and bonfire. Maybe even gun powder. Amazing. Overall this very well balanced dram, delicious, sweet, peppery, spicy and peaty, is something you just need to try. 95/100 and i truly recommend this one. Slainte Mhath!!!

F-I-N-A-L-L-Y. I have finally found the legendary whisky that once opened, the bottle smells like a fresh can of recently opened tennis balls. The myth is true, this is the one. Not on the glass though, it has this note in the bottle. After that exciting event, i got to say that Laphroaig 10 year old is a heavily peated, very "islay" dram. As a fact i have tasted (and loved) the Johnnie Walker Island Green, and now i know what does it have inside: its laphroaig. On the nose, once the bottle is opened, if you smell it, you will percieve a freshly opened can of tennis balls. On the glass it is a typical Islay single malt: very peated, prunes and bonfire. Lovely. On the palate is medium-long bodied with a very straightforward note of burnt rubber or burnt meat, that instantly changes into a hot (mild) and spicy (pleasant) note. Finish is medium, with hints of mint and spices. The whole experience is awesome, you should try this at least once just to teach yourself and others that not every whisky is alike. If you pick any highland whisky, this is the complete opposite. Beautiful, drink it on a beach day

My second Laphroaig is this NAS, and i keeps the same profile as the 10yo only a little softer and younger. Bottled at 40%abv, with an old gold color. On the nose it starts with that exciting and unreal aroma of a "fresh can of tennis balls", with other notes of burnt hay, phenols, rubber, peat, cola and prunes. On the palate, it starts watery, with caramel for a short moment, then it switches to burnt meat, burnt rubber pepper and a peaty medium finish. A typical Islay, for 28 Euros is a cheap and great offer. I could recommend this for the islay lovers who are a little low on cash. This is a solid 86 over 100, making it more than a fine whisky. Cheers!

When you say peat+sherry, you got me hooked. This travel retail exclusive Laphroaig is triple matured and one of those maturations happen in a Pedro Ximenez Cask. I got to say i expected more, but still this is one fine dram. Bottled at 48%abv, Tawny. On the nose is just not that powerful. Sherry-sherry= Not that raisin dried fruit lie. Puffs of smoke. Herbal medicinal note typical from laphroaig. A little cake crest, Vanilla cream very thick remembers me of glendronach 12. Oregano and Prunes. On the palate is an atomic bomb. Amazing. So powerful and full of character. Red fruits, wine, grapes and full smoke barbecue sensation in the palate. Feels like smoking. Ashy. Peppery. Different from other laphroaigs. Sherry presence is felt. The aftertaste is a wild one. Long and refreshing, there are two aftertastes: the first herbal mouth full and when it ends it lits again like those trick candles from birthday cakes, storing some after-spice behind your teeth. Overall i think it is a fine interesting dram but a not very balanced one and not very easy to drink due to its power. Nevertheless 92 over 100 is a perfect score for it.

All laphroaig are good. Having said that, i find this one too much alike the 10yo. It has higher abv and should have improved the taste but as i said before is almost the mirror of the 10yo. On the nose: Islay lovely peat, English sauce, Herbal, Oregano, Salt and a Typical laphroaig note: fresh can of tenis balls. On the palate is a more refined laphroaig, Oranges, Pepper, Some tofee in it and a dim Peat note. Finish is short and salty. Overall this is a very good dram but could be better. 91 over 100 is a solid score for this one.

A new Lagavulin is always wonderful news. But this time they got into the pop culture by releasing this "Offerman" edition, in honor of Nick Offerman a tv series famous character who is widely known for drinking Lagavulin. Lagavulin even made a series of "Offerman's documentaries" that you can find in youtube. But the real conclusion that this whisky left me is that this is the second recognizable whisky in the world. What do i mean by this? Well, i have often said that we, whisky enthusiasts, are not as wine master sommeliers, that can recognize a wine and its vintage year with a blindfold; but if you have 10 whiskies in a table and one of them is a Macallan, you probably wouldn't guess which expression it is, but you would definitively recognize the macallan, because Macallan always smell like a Macallan. That has happen to me with Lagavulin. Lagavulin's prefumed peat aroma is recognizable easily. It is different from the "tar" of Ardbeg, the "Fresh can of tennis balls" from Laphroaig, the heather from Highland Park and the toffee/salt from Talisker. Therefore, you can guess that a whisky is a lagavulin by only perceive its aroma. Having said that; lets get into business. Bottled at 46%abv, golden color. The Nose is perfection. Complexity. It starts with a Heathery peat. Then i got Fire; actual fire, this is the first time i got this in a whisky. Fondant; That lagavulin tar/ peat. There is a sweetness to it After the first sip, it becomes meringue, AMAZING. In has become sugary in a beatitul way. The vanilla cake note is so accurate and clean. Lemon pie. But the palate fails to deliver, without been bad. Sour prunes, a little watery (strange for 46%abv), vanilla and some saltiness. Aftertaste is great. Amazing and mild, Not overly peated but the aftertaste sensation of peat and ginger is beautiful. Mild ¿¿gunpowder??; Grassy peat, hay. Overall, Lagavulin did a great job here. Most new markets will buy this just because the "Offerman" marketing strategy, and then, they will be hooked. Great dram, 92 over 100. Sláinte!

When betting on buying good whisky without evee tasting it before, it doesn't get any safer than picking a Lagavulin. Their whiskies are always amazing and elegant. I have had quite a few of their "Distiller's Editions", and this 1995 expression (16yo, bottled in 2011), is a little less peaty and much more sweet. Bottled at 43% abv On the nose: Fresh oranges, perfumed Peat, a Citric overall aroma. Grapefruit and Chocolate fudge. On the palate, it is a little watery. Chocolate and vanilla. Mild pepper. Meat. Aftertaste is just amazing. The best part. Peat, Salty. Mouth numbing. So pleasant, so refined. Powerful Peat. Ashy and full of Spiciness. Overall this is a great dram. All the sweetness from the aroma and palate dissapears in the aftertaste to show the powerful peatiness from it. Nice experience. 92 over 100.

A beautiful new travel exclusive, the king of Islay delivers a 10yo expression, which might seem young for some people, but peat heads such as myself know that 10 years old is a nice age for smoky whiskies. Bottled at 43%abv On the nose, pretty complex for a 10yo: spent matches, iodine, vanilla sweetness, "shoe store", sea foam, very maritime; oysters. On the palate it is as nice, vanilla, fried pork, vanilla milkshake (i swear) and smoke. Aftertaste is mild filled with spices, oregan, english sauce for barbecues and salt. Overall this would make a good entry to islay whiskies for those who have never tasted one. For more experienced whisky drinkers it is a nice new member od the family but it wouldn't surprise me if people prefer the 16yo. My score for it is 85 out of 100.