Laphroaig Cairdeas 2014

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2014, NAS, 51,4 %

This year's bottling from Laphroaig for the Feis Ile (The Islay festival) is simply called Laphroaig Cairdeas 2014. Cairdeas is an old Gaelic word for friendship, and these bottlings are exclusively made available to the Friends of Laphroaig (FoL).

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2014 is first matured in 1st fill bourbon casks, and then it has had a finish for about a year in Amontillado sherry hogsheads. As far as I have managed to ascertain, this whisky comes in a "limited" number of 28254 bottles. Not very limited, in other words. Now, this is not a bad thing, as long as the whisky is good. A larger number of bottles means more people will be able to purchase and try it.

If you join the Friends of Laphroaig you can actually still buy the Laphroaig Cairdeas 2014 online, at GBP 65.

Nose (23/25): Vanilla, marshmallows, sweet smoke, honey, leather, lemons and cinnamon. This is a rich nose, lots of body and very nice aromas.

Taste (22/25): The sweet smoke and the honey carry over from the nose. It is rich, full-bodied, and rather dry. Lots of sweetness; fruit and fudge. The mouthfeel is creamy.

Finish (22/25): The fruit stays, and is joined by the fruits from the nose. The mouthfeel stays very nice. The finish is long and slightly salty and dry. The medicine cupboard gets opened towards the end, and I love the smell of it.

Balance (22/25): A lovely, rich Laphroaig. A bit sweeter and drier than a standard Laphroaig.

Score (89/100)

Sláinte! - Thomas