Laphroaig Cairdeas 2010 'Master Edition' (Feis Ile)

Disappointing (so much so it prompted my first review)

Reviewed by
Connosr member:

stu

Date:

29th Jun 2010

Reviewer rating:

About this score:

The average score for this whisky is 76.

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Tasting Notes by stu

I’ve had this on my shelf for few weeks now and decided to treat myself and crack it open tonight... I’m a little disappointed to say the least.

Nose: Smoke and coastal notes immediately, fish with a squeeze of lemon to follow. Hints of trifle (fresh cream), an Italian desert I can’t quite put my finger on, and a shot of Amaretto hidden amongst it all. Pleasant. [20/25]

Taste: Spicy, very spicy, and peppery, like the pepper used in the Chinese Hot Pot when you ask for it 'hot' (Sichuan peppers?). Dry and almost numbing. Hint of fennel seed or aniseed in there too. [17/25]

Finish: Very long with a dryness that attaches to the side of your tongue. A lingering liquorice residue and slight oiliness stays with you for a good (or bad) 10 minutes. A finish that (almost) makes you want to rinse your month out. [13/25]

I’m a big fan of the 10yo and the Quarter Cask but this doesn't come close to either.

Whisky details

Distillery/Brand:

Laphroaig

Bottling:

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2010 'Master Edition' (Feis Ile)

Region:

Islay

ABV:

57.3%

Colour:

Pale Gold

Laphroaig Cairdeas 2010 'Master Edition' (Feis Ile) Disappointing (so much so it prompted my first review) Reviewed on 2010-06-29T23:32:00 scoring 65/100 by stu

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Comments

scribe wrote:

Almost ordered a bottle of this, but decided to hold off in the end. Shame you didn't like it - what was it that put you off?

Still, would be intrigued to try some. Maybe I'll trawl the local bars in hope of a wayward bottle :)

p.s. The first sentence is intriguing me. "This is a review of the..." - of the what? Suspense!

30 June 2010 10:46

stu wrote:

Hi scribe

Im not sure exactly what it was that didnt do it for me. The finish was pretty bad, maybe that's the main reason. I love smokey, peaty Islays and love Laphroiag in general. Maybe it's because i've been drinking sweeter whiskys lately and i've also been enjoying my Ardbeg 10yo (which it can't compete with imo). Or maybe i just wasnt in the mood. I defintely isn't the sort of dram for a hot summers day like yesterday - that may have killed it for me?

Re. the first sentence; that was a mistake. I should have deleted it. It was going to be a caveat saying that the review related to the 2010 masters addition as i was going to link the review to the standard Cairdeas bottle on Connosr. In the end i added it as a new bottle but forgot to delete. Nothing interestign im affraid..

30 June 2010 11:07

Hogshead wrote:

Nice review: shame about the whisky!

WhiskyNotes gave the standard Cairdeas a low score too. Laphroaig seem to be misfiring a little with these.

30 June 2010 14:37

liamdc2 wrote:

Perhaps a lesson of stick to what you know for Laphroaig? What they do, they do brilliantly, but perhaps this was a jump too far?

05 July 2010 11:58