This cask strength version of the duty free favorite comprises whisky aged for between five and seven years in ex-bourbon casks, followed by six months in quarter casks and then a final two years in European oak. I presume those final casks are PX-seasoned rather than commercial bodega castoffs, but I’m just guessing. Either way, the original travel retail bottling ranked as one of my favorite Laphroaigs when I bought a bottle several years ago, so a cask strength version should be a treat. It’s unexpectedly approachable at the higher strength, the most obvious difference of the amped-up ABV being an increased viscosity rather than any painful alcohol burn. The nose is a delightful mix of coffee, dark chocolate, smouldering fire wood, plum jam and Syrup of Figs. Unfortunately the palate is much tighter, a flatter version of the nose. If the nose was music played through great headphones with an expansive sound stage, the palate is the same song heard on your iPhone’s speaker. There’s a full-throated blast of Seville oranges and fig jam and the finish is a bitter dark chocolate, but I found it hard to pick out other flavors from my small sample. I suspect this needs a drop of water to perform at its best, so I’ll defer a rating pending another opportunity to taste. Not that anyone should care what I think - this year’s Cairdeas is sure to please fans and fly off the shelves.