Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Laphroaig Cairdeas

Cairdeas means frienship in Gaelic,
Distinctively pale in color.  This annual limited-edition release is finally available in the U.S. Youthful, vibrant, and thumping, with the sea flowing through its veins. Coal tar, peat smoke, brine, seaweed, bright fruit (pear, tangerine) and soft vanilla all compete for attention.

Nose: Buttery and soft, with just a wisp of smoked kippers. There's only the slightest hint of the carbolic notes you find in the ten year old expression. It's a heavy butterscotch sweetness that runs the show, with a hefty portion of salted caramel.

Palate: Rounded and smooth, the butter spreads itself, melts and reveals Laproaig's signature smoky heart. It's pungent but not overpowering, a cushion of smoke rather than an enveloping cloud. But this is a big mouth-filling whisky; it just does it with finesse. That sweetness from the nose is heavily pronounced, and tastes remarkably like the crumbly fudge you find all over Islay.

Finish: Sweet, long and comforting.
$64.95  750ml.

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