Laphroaig Càirdeas 2021 Release

Whisky: Laphroaig Càirdeas 2021 Release

Region: Islay

ABV: 58.9%

Price: £93

This years release is triple matured. Initially laid to rest in Ex-Bourbon Barrels before being moved to Bourbon Quarter Casks and finally transferred to European Oak Perdo Ximenes Hogsheads.

Nose

Quite meaty, reminiscent of roast beef with bisto gravy, soil and earth, coastal sea air, light honey, smoked red berries, typical medicinal peat.

Palate

Walnuts, honey glazed ham, cinnamon spice, overwhelmingly salty, cough medicine, the smoke makes an appearance but not as much as expected, a long peppery finish with some sour plum notes.

Nose (with water)

Sugar syrup appears, the coastal notes fall into the background and kola cubes come to the forefront.

Palate (with water)

The whisky opens up and becomes more viscious and mouth coating. The typical Laphroaig smoke comes through much more than without water. Bitter dark chocolate, warming spices and coffee.

Conclusion

This years release of Cairdeas is a very big dram that combines sherry and peat in a delicious way. It is a touch pricey for a NAS, but we’d still take another bottle.

Score: 8/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

Have you tried Laphroaig Càirdeas 2021 Release? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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