New Release: Laphroaig Official Càirdeas 2014 Bottling

This year's Càirdeas was interesting in both label and taste. Laphroaig LAPHROAIG OB CAIRDEAS BOTTLED 2014 51.4% bourbon barrels and Amontillado seasoned traditional hogsheads The aroma features vanilla, orange, light caramel, slightly green oak, pencil shavings, strong peat. The flavor expands from a smooth mouthfeel into plum, vanilla, smoky peat, strong oak, rich sweetness and pronounced umami. The finish is long. 【Good/Very Good】 Recently, Laphroaig Càirdeas has been bottled annually in conjunction with the Islay Festival. This year's bottling includes a double-matured version from bourbon barrels and Amontillado-seasoned hogsheads. I don't recall ever seeing an orange-labeled Laphroaig official bottle. Both aroma and flavor reveal vanilla, fairly strong oak, smoky peat, and a woody character reminiscent of pencil shavings—characteristics I associate with recent first-fill bourbon-matured Laphroaig. Additionally, the presence of citrus and plum-like fruitiness likely stems from the Amontillado casks. While I personally feel that official Laphroaig bottles using only first-fill bourbon could use a bit more fruitiness, this one successfully incorporates fruity notes without being overly Laphroaig-like. The integration isn't perfect, but I get the sense it will develop further with time. The sweetness and umami are both rich, and I thought this was a well-crafted, intriguing bottle.