Dreaming-of-Islay
Laphroaig Càirdeas 200th Anniversary Edition
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
June 29, 2017 (edited April 18, 2023)
I've recently been on a tear in the peated Islay scotch world, and just cracked open this bottle. It compares well to the delicious Ardbeg 10 (with which it shares a lot of similarities), and Kilchoman Machir Bay (which is a bit sweeter and fruitier). It is surprising to me how much a small additional amount of aging has mellowed out this Laphroaig. Based on a distillery video featuring John Campbell, this scotch was aged 11 years and 9 months, give or take a little bit of time, so this is about the closest thing you can get to Laphroaig 12 (outside of going to the UK and ordering a bottle of Highgrove, which I intend to do in September!). The extra time balances out some of the harsher notes of Laphroaig 10, transforming it from James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause to Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke. It's masculine and substantial, but with the edges of its wild youth rounded off into the confidence that comes in one's prime. To me, 12-15 years is the sweet spot for the Laphroaig lineup. The other interesting feature of this scotch is that it's made only from Laphroaig's own floor maltings, and aged in the warehouse closest to the sea, so it's about as pure an expression of the distillery's character as you're likely to find. At over 50% ABV, this scotch hits the perfect sweet spot, with strong, full flavors in all three phases, but with no unpleasant ethanol characteristics, even in the warm finish. The nose is classic Laphroaig--peat, a bit of oats or dried cereal grain, a mellow, light smoke, and some seaside air. The palate has more sweetness, particularly a lemon characteristic, that melds well with the smoke, which takes on a cigarillo characteristic. The finish is smoky, salty, and again that oat-y or cereal note peaks through. It's just a lovely scotch.
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@Dreaming-of-Islay - I met Tomei years ago when a family member was in a Boston area play with her. What a fox back then!
@Rick_M As a lawyer whose former law firm once brought in Joe Pesci to give a talk specifically because of the head partner’s love for that scene, I can’t believe I mixed them up!
@Dreaming-of-Islay - I was referring to the courtroom scene in “My Cousin Vinny” when Vito demonstrated her knowledge of automotives.
@Rick_M - You're so right, I got my two favorite Mona Lisas confused :)
@Dreaming-of-Islay - That was Mona-Lisa Saperstein helping out her father, Dr. Saperstein. :)
@Rick_M Someone set fire to your car, because you took too long, and I got bored! Money, please!!!
@Dreaming-of-Islay - Well said! Even Mona Lisa Vito would have had trouble with that one. :)
Lol @PBMichiganWolverine. Thanks for the great feedback, all. I think I have this figured out now. What I know for a fact is that a FedEx box of whiskey supposedly containing two bottles of the 2015 cairdeas 200th anniversary edition is on the way to my house. Here’s to hoping the store didn’t have it mislabeled.
@On_The_Moors clear as mud, yeah?
Haha we’re going around and around. So the 200th Anniversary year was 2015. In 2015 there was a Cairdeas, which is the 11-12 year old, 51.5% abv scotch. There was also a 15 year 200th Anniversary, at 43% abv. Last year, 2017, they released another 15 year scotch as a Cairdeas release, meaning it was for the friends of Laphroaig but was not the regular annual special release that coincides with Feis Ile in May (that annual Cairdeas for 2017 was the Cask strength Quarter Cask expression). That 2017 release has no 200th anniversary association. I’m assuming @On_The_Moors is referring to the 2015 Cairdeas 200th Anniversary, which does not have an age statement but is that 11-12 year old bottle at 51.5%.
There were two 15 year old releases (https://distiller.com/spirits/laphroaig-cairdeas-15-year and https://distiller.com/spirits/laphroaig-15-year-200th-anniversary) that I believe came out around the same time. Not to add more confusion, but I do recall reading somewhere that the 15 year was to replace the 18 year. That though looks to be a false rumor.
@On_The_Moors I think it’s worth trying for $115, it’s a superb scotch. You guys are right, there was a 15 year edition released in 2015 to celebrate the 200th anniversary, but it was not labeled Cairdeas. The Cairdeas from that year is a slightly under 12 year old scotch at a higher ABV. Actually both are excellent, it’d be hard for me to choose — this one is more classically Laphroaig, very smoky and powerful, the 15 is earthier and gentler.
@On_The_Moors I think you’re right...they put out quite a few for their 200th, I probably confused the two. Either way, for $118, can’t go wrong
"@PBMichiganWolverine pretty sure the cairdeas was an NAS. It was the 2015 cairdeas release, which was the 200th anniversary edition. Pretty sure they also did a separate 15 year for the 200th as well. Given I can’t find the 2015 cairdeas anywhere I’ll probably grab it up...that is, if the website I ordered it from is actually accurate. Wouldn’t be the first time I get an email or call the next day telling me it’s actually not in stock so I’m not going to hold my breath."
@On_The_Moors. Yeah I think they’re going to make the 15 a regular...but I may be confusing it with the Cairdeas. Was the Cairdeas a 15 yr old? Either way, $118 isn’t bad. Not for a Cairdeas
@PBMichiganWolverine Woah, really? Good to know! Probably not worth buying the cairdeas version for that steep a price then. A friend actually called me tonight and found it for $116 anyways.
@On_The_Moors. I thought the 15 yr old was becoming a regular in the lineup? Aside from the anniversary label, would there be anything different?
Great review. Found this for $170...think it’s worth buying one or two considering how rare it’s become?
I simple love this expression. My bottle went dry recently, so it'll need replacing!
Would love to get my hands on a cairdeas...one day!