Dreaming-of-Islay
Laphroaig Càirdeas 2012 Origin Edition
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
March 24, 2018 (edited May 5, 2018)
This is the oldest of the Cairdeas series that I've tried so far, enough so that it dates back to my graduation from law school, in the dark ages when the only scotch I drank was Black Label. While the more recent iterations of this annual series have become a paean to different finishing techniques, particularly various sweet wine or dessert wine finishes, this Cairdeas seems very different. It hones in on the core Laphroaig flavors, while also adding a unique twist. The nose's strongest note is, of course, smoke, but there is a lingering air of sweet honey-roasted peanuts, reminiscent of the nut carts that line the broadways of New York. The palate is briny, has a sharp, cutting lemon note, and also features some creamy, nutty flavors. Pine nuts may be what I'm getting here. The finish is warming, smoky, long as any Laphroaig, and has a glimmer of tropical fruits. This is a nice one, worthy of the line as a whole. Am I ever going to find a Cairdeas that I don't love? It's Laphroaig, so probably not.
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It's at Jack Rose in DC, or at least that's where I had it about a month ago! Those guys have everything . . .
I could only disappear for a short time: a) I’d miss out on too many good pours to stay gone long, and b) I could only carry 3-4 bottles at a time that I found from my rummaging.
Yeah..:I can then imagine @LeeEvolved suddenly disappearing from the party, and searching crevices in the house looking for hidden treasure
@PBMichiganWolverine - I think you should host a Distiller cookout this summer where everyone brings a special bottle and then we get to sample some of this 400 bottle collection. Or is it 500 bottles? I lost count. :)
@LeeEvolved and to think I did this over 17 years to hide it from the wife.
@Generously_Paul an IB...Gordon /McPhail’s.
@PBMichiganWolverine A Tamdhu 30? Oh my would I love to get my hands on that one. Distillery bottle or IB?
@PBMichiganWolverine - an attic stash? Man-o-man, I bet the next person that moves in that house will find a Yamazaki 50yo in the space behind the dryer. That lucky SOB, hahaha
@LeeEvolved. Yeah—-I actually had to update that list. I found 20-30 stragglers in a box in the attic. Including the 2011, a rare 1970 North Port, a Tamdhu 30 yr old, and a few others in the more common category
@PBMichiganWolverine - are you sure you have them all? I thought when I saw your list that you were missing the 2011. Then again, the last was so massive and I was so star struck I may have missed it, haha.
@Dreaming-of-Islay Jason—-rare indeed...you’re probably the first here that’s had this
@LeeEvolved one day i’ll open my 2008 till 2012 Cairdeas and we’ll do a full flight
One day I’m going to do the flight of all whisky flights: every Cairdeas in my collection. Right now, it would be the 2012-2017. That will be a glorious day. Great review, Dreaming. Cheers.
First review of the 2012 Cairdeas? Must be rare indeed.