Last month, I had the honor of participating in an interview and tasting with Simon Brooking, the Brand Ambassador for several brands, including Laphroaig. You can read all about Simon and the brands he represents in the fantastic article written by Julia Menn in last month's issue. The reason I bring this up is we had a live side--by--side tasting of Laphroaig 10 and Laphroaig Quarter Cask. The whole tasting was amazing (which you can watch HERE), but the shocking part was the side--by--side. While I do love Laphroaig 10, the Quarter Cask was never that enjoyable for me. I felt like the smaller barrels made the whisky lose it's Laphroaigness. Little did I know I would be proven so very wrong. Having the Quarter Cask right after the 10 year showed how similar they were, but the small barrels allowed the nuances of the Scotch to really come through. In a sense, I felt like it validated what I have been doing with these reviews.

 

Which brings me to this month's reviews. I love my peat, I love Islay and I love Laphroaig. Laphroaig is one of those brands that I regularly buy the core offerings and many of the limited releases. And every year, Laphroaig releases their Cairdeas offering. This annual release is meant to celebrate friendship, which is what Cairdeas is in Gaelic. The release is different every year but typically cask strength. The past few years had a Madeira cask, a Fino cask, and a Triple Wood release. This year we have a Pedro Ximenez cask, which is a common sherry finish for many Scotches. Another limited release from Laphroaig is the 16 year. I first saw this about 2 years ago and fell in love.

 

Remarkably enough, I actually owned both of these bottles at the same time. Given the tasting with Simon Brooking, I decided this would be the perfect side--by--side review this month. So, let's see what these limited release Laphroaigs are all about.

Laphroaig 16

Class: Islay Single Malt Scotch

Price: $110 -- $125

 

Notes:

 

• Aged 16 years

• Distilled by Laphroaig Distillery, Isle of Islay, Scotland

• 100% Malted Barley

• Bottled at 48% ABV (96 proof)

• Matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels

 

Nose: 90/100

 

Honeyed hay and salted vanilla dominate. Pear, milk chocolate, and earthy peat sit in the background. After some time in the glass, just a touch of BBQ meat appears. Really well balanced.

 

Palate: 88/100

 

Light and oily. Vanilla and honey lead the way. Earthy peat and salted meat quickly follow.

 

Finish: 90/100

 

Earthy peat and salted meat are the stars here. A smokiness lingers beneath for a long time. Honey sweetness sits in the background.

 

Overall: 89/100

 

Recommendation: Buy it now!

 

This truly is a fantastic Scotch. It is very well balanced throughout the tasting experience. The peat isn't overwhelming, so even people that don't love peat might like it.

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2021 - Pedro Ximenez Casks

Class: Islay Single Malt Scotch

Price: $99

 

Notes:

 

• No age statement

• Distilled by Laphroaig Distillery, Isle of Islay, Scotland

• 100% Malted Barley

• Bottled at 58.9% ABV (117.8 proof)

• Triple matured in first--fill ex--Bourbon barrels, ex--Bourbon Quarter Casks, and Pedro Ximenez Hogsheads

 

Nose: 90/100

 

Smoky, funky and sweet, like smoked Vermouth. Salted BBQ meat sits underneath. A touch of honey, peaches, and cocoa can also be found.

 

Palate: 88/100

 

Rich and spicy. Tart oak is readily apparent. Chocolate, peaches, earthy peat, and nutmeg join the party. Overall, very bold.

 

Finish: 92/100

 

Chocolate, earthy peat, funk, and nutmeg all mingle nicely and linger a long time. Just a touch of heat and spice round this out.

 

Overall: 89/100

 

Recommendation: Buy it now!

 

This truly is a fantastic Scotch; yes, just like the 16 year but so much different. It is bold and brash but still very balanced. You are aware of the proof but it is still very drinkable. The funk was very surprising, but not overwhelming. Yes, this is a second peated Scotch I am recommending you buy, at least if you can find it.

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What did we learn?

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The first thing we learned is that Laphroaig makes some amazing whiskey. The 16 year is what you would expect from a well aged Scotch -- well balanced, lots of nuances, and just thoroughly enjoyable. I will admit, the 16 year is as good and probably better than my beloved Lagavulin 16. The PX Cask Cairdeas is a completely different beast entirely. And yes, beast is an excellent description. It is bold, sweet, and funky. It holds up well with water added and generally is just delicious. The finish is really outstanding, which should not surprise Laphroaig fans. The most interesting part is how they are such different Scotches, but still very much Laphroaig. Fare thee well, John Campbell, these Scotches are a fantastic way to end your Laphroaig career.