Jose-Massu-Espinel
Laphroaig Càirdeas 2020 Port & Wine Casks
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
September 28, 2020 (edited January 25, 2022)
It is amazing how something with aroma notes like humid clothes, fresh can of Tennis Balls, and tasting notes like tar and seaweed can be SO FREAKING GOOD.
Laphroaig Cairdeas Port & Wine Casks is the 2020 edition; "Cairdeas" means friendship in gaelic, and this expression has been matured in ruby port casks, then finished in red wine barrels.
Bottled at 52%abv, tawny color.
On the nose, your crazy typical Laphroaig peat, with chocolate notes. Fresh can of tennis balls, wet clothes, hay, mountain fog, and one beautiful Dulce de Leche note.
On the palate, a little straightforward but really amazing: red fruits, strawberry and spicy chilli.
Aftertaste is so good, with tar, salt, pepper, seaweed and medicinal notes. Very peaty, very plastic, very artificial... in a pleasant way.
Overall this is a great Laphroaig, not the most complex one, but surely something a peat head will enjoy. The wine casks gave it a red fruitiness, which is a nice spin to it. My score for it is an outstanding 93 over 100. Fully recommended.
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@ContemplativeFox hahaha i love those type of tasting and aroma notes, like "Granma's Drawer", car brakes, cloth softener, etc
@Jose-Massu-Espinel I really enjoy the descriptions of aromas and flavors around here. Very odd for things intended for consumption, but spot-on descriptions and often not bad. So, yes, I know exactly that smell 😂
@ContemplativeFox more than less that, have you ever seen a Nerf toy? it is the aroma of a nerf toy.
@Jose-Massu-Espinel Ah, I think I get what you're talking about then - it's what the Distiller review refers to as band aids?
@ContemplativeFox Laphroaig is always like that, very artificial, plastic aromas and flavors. medicinal also.
@CKarmios lol!!!
@CKarmios It was pretty tiring for it resting in bourbon barrels for all of those years, so it had earned a rest in port casks.
I've never read "very artificial... in a pleasant way" before. It makes sense though in the context of plastic.
Love the marketing fluff. Apparently the whisky was ‘rested’ in port casks. Probably because it got tired running around tennis courts fetching balls all day?