Tastes

Nose: bourbon-forward. I pick up vanilla, cinnamon and baking spice, along with red apple and a citrus note to compliment. Palate: creamy and full mouthfeel. Powdered sugar, oak and lemon meringue coat the mid-palate with a pinch of alcohol/pepper in the background. Finish: short-medium and dry, with an almost sour nuttiness which lingers for a bit. The oak and citrus really assert themselves here, eventually giving way to a shadow of dark coffee and cordial chocolate. A decent pour at a good price at around $55, but for me the sourness on the finish just doesn’t play incredibly well with my palate. Update: a few months of oxygen has done this single malt well. The finish has rounded into a fine creaminess that I’m growing more fond of by the day. Bumping up this score from 3 to 3.75 3.75/5

Ah yes, the annual gift that is Cairdeas. I am simply loving this year’s expression from Laphroaig. That signature peat smoke grabs your nose as expected, but it’s the finish where this one really shines. The mouth feel reminds me of the last few Cairdeas releases: thick, velvety, oaky yet very well balanced. finish is what separates this year’s release from the previous wine-matured Cairdeas, the 2016 Madeira cask. Where the finish on the ‘16 I felt turned too dry and almost chalky, the fino maturation of this year’s release provides a sweet tanginess: think a fusion of white grapes, caramelized sugar, vanilla bean and fresh pears. A true delight. Still lots to uncover in this bottle, but I can confidently say Laphroaig did a fantastic job here. I can’t wait for it to be more readily available in the U.S. market so I can grab up a few more bottles. 4.5/5

“Meh.” That’s about all I can really say about this travel exclusive from Laphroaig. This dram really excels at being a flat, forgettable pour with its watery, delicate mouth feel, subdued peat smoke and fairly indiscernible differences in the wood notes. Bottled at 4O% (red flag) I really can’t recommend spending more than $30 American on a bottle. Next time you find yourself In the Duty-Free shop, save your funds for something more interesting. Give me the Triple Wood any day over this one. An even 2/5. Bummer.

Good and all, but it ain’t Weller.