Laphroaig Càirdeas 2016 Madeira Cask

The first thing that came to mind when I tried this was "leather"; specifically, if you've ever tried Octomore 08.3, the GIGANTIC leather note that appears right on the end is exactly what I got all the way through drinking this. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as the more modest proof means that it still goes down easy enough (and would probably pair well with something like roasted nuts).

Review transfer from Barreled from October 2016. This is the first Cairdeas (Gaelic for friendship) that I've had. Tasting comes from a sample not a full bottle. This Laphroaig comes in at a hefty 51.6% ABV, the highest strength Laphroaig I've had to date. The color is a sort of strawberry gold, no word on if it is natural color or not. Non chill filtered. On the nose, this is very un-Laphroaig. Sweet oranges are dominant, showing off the influence of the Madeira casks. The peat that is typical Laphroaig is quite muted at first. Slightly nutty. Bourbon-y oak, but on the sweeter side, no vanilla or cinnamon that I could detect. More oranges. The peat seems to become more apparent after time in the glass. A very curious nosing experience. The arrival on the palate is very sweet. Oranges and cream with apricot and peach. It quickly turns spicy, very spicy. Slightly salty. After swallowing you get a blast of burnt peat. More of a burnt sensation than the typical ashy one associated with Laphroaig. The finish is dry, spicy and a bit nutty with more of the burnt/ashy quality. Medium-short in length. I added water (which I don't normally do) due to the higher strength just to see what would happen. The peat is pushed further back on the nose and allows more fruit to come through. It tones down the burnt feel and becomes more ashy on the palate, but it loses something overall. Overall I like this one. It's so atypical for Laphroaig that it's worth at least a try. At $80 I would buy a full bottle and enjoy it very much. 4.25

Honey is my first impression, buried underneath the heavy smokiness, trying so hard to stand out. This is a very smooth and enjoyable whiskey, despite its relatively high abv. Highly recommended.

Really nice blend of flavors. Deep earthy wine and more earthy peat