Laphroaig Cairdeas Feis Ile 2009

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.

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