Laphroaig Càirdeas 2020 Port & Wine Casks

Aroma is BBQ meat on leathery dark fruit with a candied citrus pop and light earthy notes that pull it all together into a shifting and engaging olfactory experience; Palate is like having the best strawberry shortcake you can imagine after eating perfectly grilled sardines; Finish is a touch smoky and that last, semi-metallic, sip of a red wine that’s sat out a bit too long.

Very sweet, with less smokiness than most Laphroaig. Very complex. Reminds me of the Px Cask.

Neck pour: All Laphroaig and I had to really work hard to find the wine&port. It was there, then it disappeared. Second day, the classic flavours are still there but this time accompanied by the port and wine. Very much melded together IMO, not the smoke and wine working separately. With a touch of sweetness, some wine barrel woodiness, small amount of dried fruits. Added water to see what it would taste like, didn’t like what it did to the smoke. Made it dull and less appealing to me. I prefer the rougher sharpness.

Nose, pepper, honey, candied pear. Pallet honey pear, pepper, sour grape - like wine, bacon.

This was somewhat difficult to lay hands on, but I really wanted to try it because I love the travel retail Port finished Brodir so much. So how does this matchup, and was it worth the wait? Because considering I'd have to fly to Europe to get a crack at it, I'm not getting my hands on a Brodir anytime soon. On the nose, this 2020 Cairdeas is pretty restrained. I get a little of Laphroaig's famous band aid peat, but it is a bit subdued and there are red fruit and wine notes lingering at the edges. Very nice, but not the sticky plum bomb that I remember from the Brodir. Oily on the palate, where the peat really comes forward and you taste the proof a bit. The same red fruit and wine notes continue to linger at the edges. The finish is peppery and peaty with little tannic sweetness from the wine. I like this quite a bit and I'm happy with the purchase, although to be honest it doesn't have as much port as I was hoping for. The Brodir had that powerful peat and sweet thing going on, and it was much richer. Even at 52%, this one feels restrained. That said, it is more elegant and it doesn't even need a drop of water at that relatively high ABV to be enjoyable. I think this one will grow on me as I start to appreciate what it is (elegant and balanced Laphroaig), and not what it isn't (a port bomb).