Laphroaig Càirdeas 2018 Fino Cask Finish

Fino cask finish is an interesting pick for something as bold as Laphroaig. Feels like the light sherry influence gets lost among the big, bold taste of what hits the palate as a youthful whisky. After a while the nose opens up, revealing some of the finishing cask. A couple drops of water soothes the harsh finish (likely a young whisky), and makes the dram more interesting. Good whisky, but maybe not worth the price.

Tasting. $22 for 3

The fino sherry cask finish is gilding the lily on the classic Laphroiag profile, which is ironic because it does add some floral and herbal qualities. Basically my take is that it's subtraction by addition, adding notes that clash with what's good in the original character. N: Salt spray, ash, pipe smoke, but also a floral sweetness. P: Mineral, creosote, bitter and sharp notes like you'd find in amaro or gin: anise, rhubarb, peppercorns. Slightly tannic and tart cherries. F: pretty standard Laphroiag, coating smoke, charred meat, salt. It's interesting, it just pulls in two wildly different directions and distracts from what I like in the 10 year.

Really Sweet and Smokey