Cairdeas 2016
Madeira Cask
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
51.6% ABV (103.2 proof)
~$75 (sample provided)
Color: gold, with a slight orange tint.
Smell: oh boy, very Scotchy! In short, I think this a slightly sweeter version of a classic Islay nose. So your basic gauze/iodine/ash/coal fire aroma, but then supplemented with more playful fruit notes - specifically orange. The first whiff is massive, but stick with it and your nose quickly adjusts to the level of peat reek to reveal the citrus underneath. Lots of depth, and plenty to appreciate.
Taste: an ever so slight let-down from the aroma. Loads of citrus shines through on the palate, but the result is slightly disjointed. There is some slight sweetness upfront, with orange citrus from the get-go, and then bitter almonds and the smoky/ashy Islay character take hold on the midpalate. The finish is long, with a combination of ash, slight citrus, and bitter almonds.Overall: this is well executed and very interesting, but not my favorite expression of Laphroaig. There are different varieties of Madeira, and my guess is that the casks used were not the "dessert" Madeira casks (i.e., not Malmsey or Bual). I could be wrong, but if that were the case, I'd expect a lot more sweetness shining through. As it stands, there are some very interesting secondary notes coming from the casks - almonds and oranges most notably. For me, they just don't marry perfectly. Solid B/B+, but I personally gravitate more towards the classic ex-bourbon expressions.
