Tastes

What an excellent entry into the Cairdea line--particularly as the standout in an otherwise long chain of secondary casked editions. This exemplifies all that is essentially Laphroaig and nothing that isn't: rich notes of green apples, vanilla, seaweed, fish oil, brine, and stone fruits on the nose shift, quite pointedly, to a palate of bacon, sardines, lemongrass, tar, cilantro, pear, and marmalade. The finish--yet still--has its own unique blend of apricots, campfire, kelp, and a bit of coffee. It's full bodied and the finish lasts for days--savory and smoky with lingering mouth-coating salt that makes you feel like you are breathing the sea air on the very shores of Islay. The only thing that's missing are the nutty and oily characters that many Laphroaigs get. Oh, and the finish isn't just smooth--it has all the burn you want from the peat and none of it that isn't.

Tonight's libations consist of BenRiach Solstice 17 Year Old Heavily Peated Port Finish. The nose is a rich medley of passion fruit, strawberries, vegetable peat, moss, kale, and faint plantains with a heavier emphasis on the fruit contribution as opposed to the peat. This is not a typical Islay peat either: it's less medicinal, with a minimal brine contribution, and allows for its smoke contribution to remain unconflicted with the port presence. The port, in spite of being tawny, does not being overly muscular either: it rules the aromas but never dives into heavier plum, raisin, and fruitcake arenas. Its donation is lighter, with bits of marzipan and tangerines rounding out the edges. The palate is where things get interesting: green almonds, dried fruit, saline, savory apples, cooked malt, BBQ pork, and campfire smoke. This rounds into a finish that is heavier on the salt contribution, where lemon tarts, vanilla, dried cranberries, and viscuous, oily peat wind down the experience. However, the brine is quite sneaky--even more than many Islays. It isn't there in large quantities but what is there in this oily dram finds its way to the roof of your mouth and stays there. After several sips, the salted pork and fruit flavors have transformed...becoming more salty and savory with each sip.