Laphroaig Càirdeas 2020 Port & Wine Casks

Great smoky and sweet balance. Nose: Raisins, Strawberries, Smoke, Toffee, Raspberries, Iodine, Vanilla, Flowers, Honey, Dark Chocolate, Cherries Palate: Caramel, Raspberries, Iodine, Raspberries, Smoke, Brisket, Blackberries, Raisins, Cherries, Toffee, Almonds, Hazlenuts Finish: Raisins, Dark Chocolate, Tar, Oak, Cranberries, Blackberries, Toffee, Cherries, Cranberries, Plums, Dates

Not your typical Laphroaig.. the subtleness of the second fill port cask marries nicely with a more salty smoke.. with a beautiful tobacco note on the finish.

Anticipation got the best of me yesterday afternoon and I decided to open a bottle of the new, Feis Ile festival release from Laphroaig: Port & Wine Cask Cairdeas. Ever since I tried the 2013 Cairdeas Port I’ve had a hard on for anything Laphroaig Port Cask. The three variations of Brodir, the EU TRE Port Wood, and the amazing 2013 Cairdeas. I want them all. Needless to say, this one was high on my “try immediately” list. The problem is the port notes on this new release are very restrained and almost non-existent. There’s red wine dryness in spades and non-iodine, BBQ meatiness a plenty- just not much port sweetness and depth. The color is beautiful, the BBQ smoke and easy drinking aspect are all here and make a fine, almost “sessionable” experience....but I want my Port Laphroaig to be ported. I’m giving it an average score right out of the gate, but if the profile changes when I pop this cork after some hopeful oxidation in a couple of weeks I’ll gladly change it. Tariffs and import shipping charges put me in at $150usd per bottle and for about $20-30 more I can scour the auction sites for 2013 Cairdeas Port Wood bottles and be thoroughly satisfied. If you’re a Laphroaig fanboy like me, well you need a bottle in your life, but you can also wait for something a little better to come along if you have the patience. 3.5 stars (initially). Cheers.