Laphroaig Càirdeas 2018 Fino Cask Finish

Lovely with notes of sultanas, marshmallows, honey, nuts, flowers, and salted caramel to complement to classic Laphroaig smoke. Nose: Smoke, Honey, Raisins, Sultanas, Bacon, Iodine, Bananas, Salted Caramel, Vanilla, Marshmallows, Macadamian Nuts, Apricots Palate: Sultanas, White Chocolate, Iodine, Dates, Figs, Peaches, Salted Caramel, Salted Cod, Butterscotch, Wildflowers, Almond Pastries, Hazlenuts Finish: Vanilla, Marshmallows, Sultanas, Quince Jam, Cured Ham, Figs, Bacon, Figs, Yellow Plums, Dates, Hazlenuts, Oranges, Coconuts

I’ve had this bottle for almost 2 years, and a pending move has finally forced me to finish it off. Nose reminds me of a soapy car wash next to a windy ocean beach…there’s indiscernible fruits mixed with salt, kelp and a smidge of dust. It’s not underwhelming, but neither is it phenomenal. It does do a pretty good job of leading into the palate. And boy, that palate; it’s all that is good about Laphroaig without feeling like you had to lick an ashtray and get punched in the throat. But don’t let the softer side fool you. There’s still plenty of brine, soot, rubber, iodine and smoke to discover, except now it’s perfectly balanced by white grapes, figs, dark cherries and marzipan. Finish is medium long, and briefly recaps each flavor before closing with a wonderful rush of sweet salt spray. This is exactly what I want in an enhanced Laphroaig, and it loses to the PX cask only by the smallest bit of depth and richness. Well worth grabbing if you can find a bottle for under $125.

On the nose,not quite ripe cherries. Brine. Peat, but it disappears after a few sniffs. Vanilla custard. Something sour. Palate, salt, cinnamon, lemon peel, smoke, cedar. Finish, smoke, ribbon candy, lemon Overall, this was okay. I didn’t get on with it too well. It is unique. The Fino is not a dark, rich sherry. It’s very light and, in my opinion, can’t quite do battle with the Laphroaig character.

The brine is an interesting thing... It's good! Would be amazing with some chocolate

Awesome! Oysters (yeah!), iodine, almonds , lemon skin, peat, sea salt, some moss…great finish…