Comparing with Càirdeas 2024 Cask Favorites to see how Pedro Ximenez influence interacts in each release. PX is noticeably much darker and reddish/maroon in hue while Cask Favorites is more a rose gold. Nose: rich, sweet, spicy. Sticky/syrupy dark and dried fruits. Craisin, dried plum/cherry, dried vanilla bean and baking spice. Earthy sherry. A touch of charred oak. Strong salinity, coastal/maritime peat fire. --The 2024 Càirdeas in comparison is noticeably more vanilla and charred oak forward, but still retaining a nice element of the sticky PX influence. Palate: dark, sweet, fruity with a nice underlying robust medicinal and phenolic Laphroaig peat. Black cherry, dried dark fruits, a bit of a dark mixed berry/currant jam. A touch of vanilla and nice overall Christmas spice character. Drying tannic charted oak and bitter cacao as it transitions to finish. --Càirdeas 2024 has a noticeably stronger cinnamon/spice element as well as vanilla and more robust oakiness. Finish: the peat really shines here, ashy, phenolic and with a nice strong salty sea spray. Charred oak warmth here too. -- Càirdeas '24 remains spicier and more warming, much more oak, less maritime character on the finish. A bit more dark chocolate.