Ah yes, the annual gift that is Cairdeas. I am simply loving this year’s expression from Laphroaig. That signature peat smoke grabs your nose as expected, but it’s the finish where this one really shines. The mouth feel reminds me of the last few Cairdeas releases: thick, velvety, oaky yet very well balanced. finish is what separates this year’s release from the previous wine-matured Cairdeas, the 2016 Madeira cask. Where the finish on the ‘16 I felt turned too dry and almost chalky, the fino maturation of this year’s release provides a sweet tanginess: think a fusion of white grapes, caramelized sugar, vanilla bean and fresh pears. A true delight. Still lots to uncover in this bottle, but I can confidently say Laphroaig did a fantastic job here. I can’t wait for it to be more readily available in the U.S. market so I can grab up a few more bottles. 4.5/5