Laphroaig Cairdeas Feis Ile 2009
Sweet Smoke & Lemons
0 085
Review by @markjedi1
Thanks to my good friend Chris Lauriers – whisky ambassador for Belgium – I have the opportunity to try no less than 10 – ten! – Feis Ile bottlings from Laphroaig in a row from 2007 until 2016. This is going to be a trip to remember.
This is the 2009 release, a 12 years old Laffie at 57.5%, the highest ABV of all Cairdeas bottlings to date. I get quite a few burnt notes on the nose, if you know what I mean. Toasted oak, crème brûlée, a doused wood fire, some tar. I like it. There is also quite a bit of sweetness as if from vanilla, candied citrus and fermented apples. The peat is rather quiet. There is also a mild hint of rubber, to be honest. But luckily that is not disturbing. Something metallic as well, as if it is poured from a can. Despite the high ABV, the arrival is quite doable without water. Loads of citrus in the lead, followed by a feisty spiciness (pepper and salt, ginger!) and some woodsmoke, but the typical medicinal character of Laphroaig is not really present. Sweet smoke and lemons, that’s this Laffie in a nutshell.
The finish is medium long – short compared to its compadres – and rather sweet and sour. Mildly drying towards the end.
A lovely malt in itself, but in this series of Feis Ile bottlings, it is one of the lesser gods because of its less typical character.
Find where to buy Laphroaig whisky