Whisky : Laphroaig Cairdeas 2020 Port and Wine

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 52%

Cask : Ex-Bourbon, Ruby Port, Red Wine

Nose : Char, leather, and woody resin.  The first impression was one of a dirty oven and oven cleaner with loads of roasty char notes and a faint chemical aroma.  Herbal tobacco and pine resin appeared and caught on fire before sweeter notes of fruit jellies began to take hold.

Palate : Medium bodied with notes of sweet char, molasses, and maritime meat.  Sweet smoked salmon, toasted herbs, mild earthy-char of roasted beets, and crispy candied fish skin.  Sweet rich notes of molasses, pine wood smoke, and cola at the end.

Finish :  Lingering notes of caramelized, charred fruits.

Score : 6

Mental Image : Charred Fruit Compote 

Notes : I gave this the same score as the 2019 Cairdeas, though I would rank it just a hair above.  I think the Cairdeas bottles are usually some of the best value for an Islay single malt— they have all been well priced (at msrp anyway) and good quality, full of rich flavors and plenty of heady Laphroaig maritime and medicinal notes.  This was perhaps the most balanced of the recent Cairdeas releases and avoided becoming too sweet, which was my complaint with 2018 especially.  I did think this was a bit light on the mouthfeel and I wish it were a little bit heavier so the finish could carry on longer.

Overall, a well balanced Laphroaig with plenty to love.  I typically prefer my Laphroaig a bit younger and more aggressive than this Cairdeas.  If I were to consider cost of the bottle, I would easily rate this a buy, though, honestly I did skip it as we already have an open bottle of the PX cask at home and I prefer that a hair over this even if it is not cask strength.

Image Credit : Laphroaig.com