Laphroaig Càirdeas 2017 Cask Strength Quarter Cask Edition

Cask Strength laphroaig in a different barrel, ok I'll bite. Nose - Alcohol, peat, creme, coconut water, and a bit of youthful new make spirit. I'm a bit concerned but at the same time nothing is sharp or offensive here, just youthful and the abv is high. Maybe we'll be ok. Also getting some spearmint, oak tannins, vanilla, and the very medicinal element of laphroaig. Taste - This quarter cask is an explosion of flavors, I get citrus, vanilla, pine, spearmint, every so slightly soured oak, coconut, and as I often get on younger islay some aspartame. Then we get a nice long finish of medical supplies, lingering classic peat, rubber, ash, fake vanilla candy, and this is different but waxy cigarette smoke. So let me take a step back. I actually really enjoy just drinking this. It's not my favorite and it's not one I'll get more of but I like it. But when I focus on the notes and trying to pull them out, I'm not loving it. It is young and offensively so in some ways. But it's also good in many other ways. It's a whisky to just drink and to get a unique take on big ass abv and peat. I think that's the goal and it does that well. Anyway I'm not the biggest CS laphroaig fan until you get into the older stuff. So keep that in mind but I'm a 2.0 here. This is very average whisky put together expertly for a niche who wants peat to punch them in the balls, abv to kick them there, and then they just want a different cask maturation so they get a new spin on it. For that group this will be a stand out and frankly I would take this over the triple wood and regular 10 CS if I were in that grouping just as I think this one is a bit more unique. Me, I still like the Fino which I don't think is CS but I do think is more complex, nuanced, and well just a better whisky....but it isn't a better shot to the nuts.

I've had this bottle open for 4 months, and finally decided to finish it and write the review. It's not that I dislike it and don't want to tarnish my oft-stated love of Laphroaig. It's not that I love it and was waiting until I'd built a vocabulary adequate for expressing such greatness. In truth, it's because I didn't really know what to think of it, nor how to express what I was tasting. The nose is so hot that I get alcohol and smoke, and nothing else. No amount of time changes this, and it doesn't evolve for me in any direction. The palate also opens hot, but the gritty dryness goes really well with the overwhelming peat smoke, as if you're literally chewing charcoal (or eating the incredibly over burned skin of a natural-casing hotdog that you left in the fire for way too long). it's enjoyable to me, but it's also very one-note, which is very un-Laphroaig. After many small sips, and much concentration, I can get bits of iodine and seaweed, and the slightest hint of brine, before it closes out with more heat, grit and smoke. Water makes it slightly less aggressive, but doesn't really change the nose or palate. I don't hate on the NAS market because if a whisky tastes good, it doesn't matter how old it is. That being said, this isn't as good as it could (should?) be, and would have been better served with a few more years in the barrel. I'll take the standard 10 CS over this any day.

This is a better one than the 2018, but still falls to the Lore or even the 10. What is very interesting about this one is a coconut note that you get and it has a nice body to the palate. Smoky and briny that we know and love from Laphroaig, and very happy I have it on the shelf. You won’t be disappointed with the purchase and if you’re a fan of Islay, this is a great one to have in the collection. Love that tropical twist on the peat monster Laphroaig. However, I love the band aid taste of the 10 which this lacks, although this one is just on another side of the Laphroaig spectrum.

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!!!

Wow, such great flavor! Aroma lingers in your nose, taste lingers on your tongue, warmth lingers in your throat. Amazing.

I'd buy again. Some peat flavor but not overly-iodine.

Damn I like this one. Smoke honey and vanilla on the nose. Enters with a punch of Bbq and ash. Fades into a gentle honey sweetness with a kick of white pepper at the end. Long finish with a tobacco ash ending.

Solid expression for the buck. A lot more fruit than normal Laphroaig. But enough sweetness and smoke to make you know whose behind it. One of my favorite years for Cardeas so far.