Laphroaig Cairdeas 2023 - White Port and Madeira - Whisky Review 159

[@gavsdrams]

There are many reviewers out there i love yours So laid back great information

[@WhiskyLock]

Thank you Gav 🙂

[@ps3inquisition441]

I just picked this up today. Still available for a great price in PA. I’m really enjoying my first pour.

[@WhiskyLock]

Great to hear that it's made its way around the world to someone who wants to drink it. Enjoy! 🥃

[@andynelson5864]

Another solid, in-depth, honest review -- much appreciated! Haven't tried this one; the only Laphroaig I might be interested in buying right now is the CS 10yo, but even then, the grievances you raise about that distillery does kind of get in the way. Really, I'm just glad that finding quite good, clean, "artisan" presentations--and even sometimes at a reasonable price--isn't too difficult. I did buy the Machir Bay CS a few months back (your review had a lot to do with that purchase) and very much enjoy it, especially now that some time and air worked their way into the bottle. It seems to have a bit more depth, a little more richness to it. Curious to know your take on the Kilkerran HP Batch 7. I fell deeply in love with Batch 6, but its run is pretty much done around here. I suppose that even if I like the Batch 7 a little less, I'll still be quite pleased with it, hefty price tag and all.

[@WhiskyLock]

I really like that Machir Bay Cask Strength. In hindsight I wish I'd bought a second bottle. You probably shouldn't let the presentation issues stop you from buying a 10CS. It is the gold standard of Laphroaig and one of the best peat bombs despite those issues. I don't believe they've ever chill filtered that release anyway. It's just very annoying that they won't commit to putting it on the label. If you like Laphroaig and want it turned up to 11 you'll really enjoy it. The new Batch 15 in particular is very good. I haven't been able to try much Springbank/Longrow/Hazelburn/Kilkerran lately so I can't really comment. They've been very hard to find here for quite a while. I do have some older bottles that I will open and review soon though. I believe I have a Kilkerran HP batch 5, 12yo and maybe a 16yo... Cheers 🥃

[@gman5986]

Thanks for this great honest review. Totally against the massive price hikes over the last few years . Love the cask strength.......Slainte!

[@WhiskyLock]

You're most welcome! Raising a glass to affordable quality whisky for the foreseeable future 🥃 Cheers!

[@alexanderwatson4316]

I was a big fan of this year’s Cairdeas when I tried it at the distillery, and according to the guys behind the bar, Laphroaig have made a deliberate decision to lower their prices across the board this year, for which I’ve got to give them some credit! The prices seemed to be about £10 cheaper per bottle compared with last year, and hopefully we will see that same reduction from 3rd party retailers soon. Makes a pleasant change from the direction companies like Diageo and Louis Vuitton are taking the whisky industry!

[@WhiskyLock]

That's a really nice gesture if it makes it through to us. I guess Laphroaig are big enough to be able to do things like that and it is indeed a pleasant change from Diageo's gouging... Slainte! 🥃

[@TheNewMediaoftheDawn]

Yeah but 3-5 years ago it was WAY cheaper for a young whisky, dropping a few quid doesn’t mean all that much…

[@saschaoswald480]

Thanks for the review, I always enjoy the Cairdeas release, it's just nice to try something a little different each year. Just about to empty my Port & Wine from 2020. Cheers Shane!

[@WhiskyLock]

I really enjoyed the 2020 release. Wish I still had some left! Cheers 🥃

[@sowlegwhiskyreview5501]

I haven't had the best of luck with Laphroaig and port casks but this sounds nice and there is something fascinating about white port. It has the common sweet flavor like a particular Danish cake brunsviger - which I doubt has a name in English😉 I am right now soaking oak chips in white, ruby and tawny port from the same bodega to see. how much difference I will get once I throw them into a boring-ish malt.

[@WhiskyLock]

Nice to hear from you! I know what you mean. I generally have a fair amount of suspicion when it comes to port matured whisky! This is pretty nice though. I also liked the Port & Wine Cask Cairdeas so I'd be open to trying more Port matured Laphroaig as they seem good at it! I will never have anything positive to say about the PX Cairdeas though 🤮 I had to Google Brunsviger. I think you're right that it doesn't have an English name but it looks familiar and I can't think why 🤔 Wonderful tasting note! Looking forward to hearing how your wood chip experiment turns out 👍

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Nice one Shane! I'm on the fence with this and I love the Machir Bay CS so I think I know where I'm headed :) Cheers!

[@WhiskyLock]

Both fantastic whiskies! This points out how much of a bargain the Machir CS was though. Cheers 🥃

[@BagelLoxCapersCC]

I just bought a bottle of this last week. My first Cairdeas release. Sounds like it's going to be a pretty decent one 👍

[@WhiskyLock]

Yes I think so! I haven't loved all the Cairdeas releases (didn't care for the PX or Amontillado in particular) but this one is a nice mix of Laphroaig house style and interesting casks. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[@peathead4450]

Thanks for your honest an in depth review, Shaun. Great that you have been able to review it. For me it still feels kinda strange that the Fèis Ile bottles are available for people that not have made the journey to the festival. That was the whole idea of the annual releases (not only Laphroaig, but all) in the first place: it was intended to be some sort of souvenir you buy when participating in the festival on the island. That being said it is of course great that now more people can enjoy the special drams that are produced for the festival... And therefore as regular attendee the 'festival bottle' as such is not special anymore and I just leave it for what it is. This one however I took home and I have to say, I'm not disappointed with it. Luckily no heavy madeira notes (horrible) of port notes (almost as horrible as madeira), but way more subdued than othe whiskies that faced that madeira mistake. Slàinte mhath

[@WhiskyLock]

Yes I kind of agree. Feis bottles were originally something special for in person visitors. Although there have been people buying them in bulk to sell online for a long time. And of course... Covid turned it all upside down for a while. Part of me does think they should be reserved for those who bother to visit. But living at the other end of the UK where it's too far to drive but seems too close to fly, it would probably mean I wouldn't get any... so maybe not 😉

[@gareth630]

11.23 mins "Bastards " love it ;-) Tend to stick to Lore, quarter cask, or the very good 10 yr cask strength these days as you say some other brands to some things better 🙂 Nice one Lock, shame as I love Madeira maturation or finish I think you've saved me a bob or two ;-).

[@WhiskyLock]

10CS is really king. Takes some beating. I was actually looking for my bottle of Quarter Cask last night. Haven't tried it in years and I wanted to open the one that's been on my shelf. Can't bloody find it though! Which probably demonstrates how I still have too many bottles 😒 cheers 🥃

[@Bowman1999]

Shane, thanks for reviewing this Cairdeas. I'm with you on that 2015, it is still my favorite all time. I like Laphroaig but it really comes down to the Cairdeas & 10yr Cask Strength versions for me. I haven't been able to grab a '23 Cairdeas yet and I'm thinking it will cost much more then last years. Never have had anything with White Port so this should be interesting. Cheers to another great review, keep them coming.

[@WhiskyLock]

The 2015 Cairdeas was a real treat!

[@davidloh4342]

Been waiting for this review. Will go out and buy now. Thank you, as always! 👍

[@WhiskyLock]

Thank you so much David. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Cheers my friend 🥃

[@davidloh4342]

@@WhiskyLock pleasure, just wanted to buy you a drink as a token of appreciation for all the hard work you and your liver are doing for the whisky community!

[@TheReal_DeanD]

Appreciate the honesty. These just appeared at my local for $145 USD all in. I was thinking no thanks. After this review I’m definitely not buying.

[@WhiskyLock]

Glad I could help! I do enjoy this but it's definitely not your standard Laphroaig peat bomb.

[@GregsWhiskyGuide]

Hi Shane, sorry not to catch up often with your channel & comment it (true I've subded to too many channels to be able to watch em all), but first off I have to give you a big "kudos" for your honest & balanced reviews in which everyone can make oneself an opinion, based on their experience & your comparisons there. Excellent ! Obviously you'll understand there that I watched it among all notifications received because I'm a big fan of Madeira finishes, and I like Laphroaig too, but alas we don't have access to these F.O.L. releases in France (though I'm a member myself, so it's a shame), or, if ordered directly, with Brexit plus French customs habits, it'll be way too expensive to be a good value apparently....Also I had the same approach as you about why the hell "doubling up the finishes cask types", but, as I know it now a bit better having worked on the pro side recently, if blending job is well done, it's well done, period...So you seem to like it, great, but indeed, even if I had access to it, its price is still putting me off a bit (even if i recon that the abv can justify it), and that was alas the same reason I didn't bought Kilchoman Madeira matured 2021, too pricey for me, especially because I had no way of trying it before I buy...Besides, it is true it is hard to have a peated & Madeira finished whisky remaining both marked with those 2 aspects, but it does exist every now & then, and for instance in Bergslagens indie bottlings of Grythytthan Swedish distillery you might have heard of, so if you have the occasion to get them through maybe a Swedish friend, go for them (they did at least 2 releases so far with Madeira casks), at least the one i have which is stunning (an 8 yo full matured in a single Madeira cask, bottled 2019, Whisky Base N° 128066, and, while I already spoked about it in my channel, it seems I didn't do a proper review yet, not sure ?). Cheers from Paris & will watch other videos of you asap...🥃

[@WhiskyLock]

Hi Greg! No worries. I know exactly what you mean about number of subscriptions and channels. There's just too much available these days to keep up with everything 🙂 International orders are indeed a complete pain post-Brexit. There used to be a few European shops that I relied on for hard to find bottles that I just can't use anymore. Glad to hear that you're also a madeira finish fan! I almost always really enjoy that cask type. I will keep an eye out for the madeira Grythytthans you mentioned. Cheers and thanks for getting in touch 🥃

[@Nikolay_Nikolov]

Hey, Shane! Nice review. Honest, informative and well spoken. I've been failing to connect with Laphroaig malt since even before I got seriously into whisky. So far I've tasted the Quarter Cask, the regular 10 40% and 10 CS batch 15. None of them has really blown my sock off. I tasted the Quarter Cask back in the day, maybe 1-2 years before I got seriously into whisky, and my palate refused to accept it as something fit for human consumption. The regular 10 yo I found to be pretty OK on the nose but the taste was utterly watery. The 10 CS proved to be intense but very simple and lacking any elegance whatsoever. The hospital smell (or stink rather) didn't help either. I have also a bottle of Lore in the stash which I will open someday, hopefully when my palate is ready for it :) As for the Cairdeas, those releases don't ever come to Bulgarian market. In fact all we have here is the regular 10 yo, Select and Quarter Cask. Some Lore from parallel import and some Travel Retail expressions too. To add insult to the injury, everything is outrageously overpriced. So maybe it is good that Cairdeas releases don't make it to our market as I expect its price to be well over 100 pounds. Given the status quo in Bulgarian whisky market my go-to when comes to heavily peated Islay malt is Kilchoman. The only thing their whisky lacks is age statements of 10 yo and above. IMHO there are two distilleries that have to make one tiny step more to reach the absolute greats: Kilchoman to put age statements on their core range releases (8 will be perfectly OK) and Benromach to start botlling their core range (10, 15 and 21 yo) at 46%ABV or higher. Cheers!

[@WhiskyLock]

Hi Nikolay. I'm drinking a Laphroaig Quarter Cask and comparing it to Lore right now. While it may just be that Laphroaig isn't your thing, I do agree that Quarter Cask is not their best expression. It's very good value here though. Around half the price of 10CS which makes it worth considering for me on value grounds alone. I also agree that the 10yo (40% here in Uk) is a watery abomination. I'm very intolerant of weak whisky and I can't deal with those diluted flavours.... bleugh! Lore I find better than QC (less burdened by the cask) but still not quite as wonderful as the 10CS. In your situation I think I would stick with Kilchoman. It is a wonderful distillery and almost never produces a dud. I look forward to trying their first core range 10yo too, but honestly I think Kilchoman has been wonderful for years already. Cheers 🥃

[@utoobia]

Which Kilchomans do you like?

[@Nikolay_Nikolov]

@@utoobia Loch Gorm and a 10 yo single bourbon cask are my favorites so far.

[@utoobia]

@@Nikolay_Nikolov Ah, so it isn’t peat that’s the issue. I think Gorm and most of their 10-year bourbon cask bottles are 50ppm. Pretty hefty peat, but Laphroaig’s flavors are uniquely intense and certainly not for everybody. I came to Laphroaig through enjoying Lagavulin. Disliked it first, and it was years later when I tasted one…and suddenly it clicked for me. Love the stuff now.

[@catnapgee5357]

All in all, to your taste, how does this compare to L10 CS batch 15? Which do you ultimately find more enjoyable?

[@WhiskyLock]

Enjoyment is pretty close despite them being quite different. This Cairdeas is fun because it's unusual whereas 10CS #15 is a timeless classic that you could stock up on and drink for years without getting bored. I think I do prefer batch 15 👍

[@catnapgee5357]

@@WhiskyLock great answer, cheers!

[@justwhisky]

Nice review! I think I enjoyed this Cairdeas a bit more than you albeit your good score. Pricey for sure but a relative bargain compared to Ardbeg special releases. I look at Cairdeas as a once a year splurge and this year I was more than pleasantly surprised. Cheers 🥃

[@WhiskyLock]

The great thing about Cairdeas is that they're always different but always recognisable as Laphroaig. Not easy to do! I am enjoying this one quite a lot. I think your tasting notes are quite similar to mine too. My comments of reservation are mostly that I don't think this is a true Laphroaig peat bomb which may disappoint some. This is head and shoulders above the PX Cairdeas for me though. Madeira can do no wrong 🙂 Cheers John 🥃

[@jonathanbean7097]

In terms of sheer enjoyment and quality, how would you compare this with the Cask strength 10 batch 15. Because I can only afford 1, so im trying to get an idea as to where my money is best spent from the experts

[@WhiskyLock]

Hi Jonathan. I think it purely comes down to whether you want a straight forward peat bomb or something a little more unusual. I would tend to go for the 10CS though. It's a classic and I really like the current batch 15. Cheers 🥃

[@jonathanbean7097]

@@WhiskyLock thanks, and cheers!

[@revolvermaster4939]

Go for the 10 batch 15! I have both and the 10 blows it away.

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

What is this new bottle ban you mentioned? Cairdeas tends to be hit or miss in terms of exceptiinalism and value. The last one I bought, I believe partly on your recommendation, was the 2021 PX Cask Strength version which I paid $90 for; and all things considered, that was a good purchase. Similarly, I recently picked up Ardbeg BizarreBQ for $70, and that seemed reasonable given its pedigree and uniqueness. However, truth be told, it's my opinion that very few bottles are truly worth paying up for beyond quality core range offerings, and the community needs to be on constant guard not to fall for some of these increasingly expensive limited release sucker bottles ✌️

[@WhiskyLock]

Bottle Ban... I said in my Whisky of The Year video at the end of last year that I would limit incoming bottles to few or none to thin out my collection a little and avoid rising prices. I think I've made 3 purchases so far this year. Not bad! Agree that Cairdeas can be hit or miss but I suppose that goes hand in hand with the slightly experimental nature. I was tempted by BizarreBQ but resisted. Can you say how it compares to things like Ardbeg Scorch? It is nice that Ardbeg priced BizarreBQ a little lower than other recent releases. Also agree with you that for the majority of people, the majority of the time, Core Range is where it's at. I love trying Cairdeas and Ardbeg Committee Releases but few beat something like Ardbeg 10 on bang for buck grounds! Cheers 🥃

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@WhiskyLock I haven't gotten around to opening the BizarreBQ yet, but there are several reviews on KZbin; the consensus seems to be that it's a good one.

[@utoobia]

@@MrChristopherMolloy It’s a nice whisky. As good as the 7 or 8 other Ardbeg special releases I’ve had - The difference is that it isn’t $170. LOL.

[@minibus1351]

Man, these bottles were 750ml here in the US, now it's 700ml. Huge blow.

[@WhiskyLock]

Yep they got us with that one 30yrs ago and now they've got you too. One dram less per bottle but it sure adds up 😣

[@utoobia]

I just noticed this on my 23 Cairdeas bottles. Quickly checked the other 4 other Laphroaig bottlings I’ve bought in the last year….they’re still all 750. So just the Cairdeas here in Virginia.

[@nenads.3695]

Anthoer excellent review. I am a big fan of Laphroaig and Kilchoman and will attempt to purchase them when available. I was lucky enough to try this one and like you thought it was good but I decided to buy another 10 year old cask strength instead, which I belive, is better value.

[@WhiskyLock]

Thanks! Yes I think you're right that the 10CS is better value. And probably just a better whisky all round if you can only have one!

[@thenavajoknow]

I quite like it, though it's way overpriced. Except that the Laphoraig online shop was recently selling off everything at a 25% discount (system error or overstock?) and I wound up paying €68, which is more in sync.

[@WhiskyLock]

Error or not, I wish I'd seen that! I agree on the pricing.

[@thenavajoknow]

@@WhiskyLock An older Friend of Laphroaig said this had happened twice before and they actually once asked customers to repay the difference. That did not happen this time around, but someone for kicks put in an order for 1000 bottles of Lore and they were duly discounted before he cancelled. Seems it's a somewhat unsophisticated shop system worth looking into regularly 😀.

[@WhiskyLock]

@@thenavajoknow That's hilarious. Imagine accepting delivery of 1000 bottles of Lore!

[@PaleMischief]

🥃👍🏻😁

[@revolvermaster4939]

It beats the 💩 out of the Warehouse 1!

[@WhiskyLock]

I liked both but the White Port and Madeira is definitely more unusual and interesting of the two 👍

[@revolvermaster4939]

@@WhiskyLock very unique for Laphroaig!

[@ericlani2622]

I thought laphroaig was on your blacklist and you were not getting anymore?

[@ericlani2622]

Nevermind, should have watched a little more before commenting lol

[@WhiskyLock]

Sh*t List not Black List 😁

[@WhiskyLock]

I do still have to suppress a little rage whenever I open a Laphroaig tube and see the little green book... a bad case of Laphroaig PTSD... Points That Simply Disappeared...

[@ericlani2622]

@@WhiskyLock Right there with you. After the PX cardias I'm simply uninterested. I will give them points for not charging ardbeg committee prices, however.

[@WhiskyLock]

@@ericlani2622 Ardbeg Committee Releases - doing a great job of making everyone else's prices look reasonable 👍

[@TheNewMediaoftheDawn]

The 2017 or 18 was also Madeira, but it was young and a peat bomb, but you still got the different fruity take on standard Laphroaig. Yes everything is a rip off these days, Cairdeas used to be 100$ Canadian, or around 50 pounds-quid, now close to double for what’s traditionally very young, although unsure about the 2023 age, definitely uncoloured though, cheers🎉

[@WhiskyLock]

2016 was 8 years in bourbon and finished for 2 years in madeira. Sadly I don't have any to do a comparison but I remember liking it quite a lot. Probably about equal. From my notes it does sound peatier than the new one as you say. I've lost count of the things that we used to be able to get for £50 that are now creeping out of my price range. Many of the true bargain buys for me these days are rum. There are still good value whiskies out there but it's getting harder. Cheers 🥃

[@jackthepickledhound]

Just shows the power of tradition. No ability to go against years of caramel. What would happen if the tour guide actually could be proud of their artisan product? C'mon man! Whats the point of all the tourism if they are full of shit.? BTW....I compulsively but Cairdeas and 10 CS because I'm not feeding the Ardbeg Crave

[@WhiskyLock]

Caramel colouring is a black mark on the reputation of Scotch. About time it was done away with! The 10CS is always a good buy. And Cairdeas is always fun at the least. Quite ironic that people are buying a £90 NAS Laphroaig because they're sick of bad value from Ardbeg. And I can't blame them! Cheers 🥃

[@jackthepickledhound]

@@WhiskyLock I just bought a bottle of Uigeadail for $79. From what I can tell, that's the lowest it will ever be again. Nothing left to do but wait for the 2024 Cairdeas . I got the white port for $92. Hahaha. Everyone needs something to look forward to .