Laphroaig Càirdeas 2014, 51.4% abv.

Supposedly double matured in bourbon barrels (rumor has it at around 8 years) and Amontillado hogsheads (rumor has it finished for approximately 1 year), with a purported production of 28,254 bottles, which is a huge outrun imho.

Nose: wood and smoke, salt.

Palate: initial palate is sweet and slightly smoky, mid and back palate develops a seasoned wood-like flavor that is hard to describe, dissipates quite quickly. The sweetness transforms after a few sips from one of treated wood to a more mild fruit juice type, flavors tend to transform to BBQ condiments, like bbq sauce.

Finish: short to medium, builds up pretty quickly and then dissipates equally fast, that Laphroaig aftertaste of smoked fruits, bbq wood. A little bit of abv burn and numbness on the roof of my mouth.

Wow, also very tasty, intense but short. Has this slightly strange seasoned wood-like flavor that develops on the tongue, which intensifies the experience. Quite a different Laphroaig. The 2011 Caideas was really sweet whereas this 2014 bottling is more bbq condiments. I like this one! I admit this is a biased review.

Grade: A-

Whiskyanalysis.com, 8.95 ± 0.21 on 11 reviews
Whiskysaga, Thomas Øhrbom, 89/100
Lawhiskeysociety, B from 3 reviews

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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