Laphroaig Càirdeas 2024 Cask Favourites

Nose: dark, syrupy, earthy, and sweet PX character. Vanilla, baking spice. Burnt sugar. There is a pretty substantial peat character, but it is balanced out by the sweeter notes. Coastal salty air. Smoldering beach bonfire. A pronounced oak tone as well Palate: pungent peat, dark cherry, plum, raisin. Earthy and oily sherry. Prominent woody tannin that gives it a bite. Seaweed, black pepper. Finish: long, dark fruits, spicy oak/wood tannin. Mild salinity, strong phenolic peat. Theres almost a sarsaparilla note on the retrohale.

4.15, i prefer the 2023 version better

I struggle to feel like I’m rating this fairly, as lately I’ve preferred drinking more lightly peated whiskies. I loved the 2021 Cairdeas PX cask strength release, and this is the most similar release since. In some ways this seems more refined and balanced. But for whatever reasons this doesn’t wow me like that one did. I’ve had a few drams from this bottle and it just comes across as very good, but not great. All the expected flavors are there from the medicinal peat, the PX sherry. The proof is good, no water needed. I keep getting the feeling that I would’ve rated this higher 3 years ago, but tastes are subjective. 4 stars on this day in 2025.