Laphroaig Càirdeas PX Finish 2021 Release

Laphroaig Cairdeas PX 58.9% abv   

$105/£80/€93

NAS but thought to be 10 years old. Triple maturation of ex-bourbon (200 ltr), quarter casks (125 ltr) and then finished in PX sherry hogsheads (225-250 ltr)

Nose: Classic Laphroaig. Burnt embers, burnt rubber and TCP. Red berries – cranberry and brown sugar. Kendall mint cake, pine resin and coffee grounds. Stem ginger, molasses and grilled lamb. Quite oaky too with dried rosehips.

Water brings out bacon lardons, a pine forest, sweet black coffee as well as rosemary and thyme.

Palate: A spicy, peppery kick straight off – plenty of peat smoke mixed with menthol, cherry lip sweets, bbq’d pork ribs, balsamic glaze and strawberry, lemon zest, clove and sea salt dark chocolate plus fruit loaf.

Water gives smoked ham hock, leather, orange zest and menthol tobacco

Finish: Medium length with sherry poached dried fruit, bbq’d meat and ashy smoke

Score: 7 out of 10

Overall: Much better than the PX travel retail bottle and again proves that cask strength Laphroaig, for the most part, is where you want to invest your money when it comes to officially bottled Laphroaig.

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