Laphroaig Càirdeas Warehouse 1 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Laphroaig Càirdeas 2022 Warehouse 1 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the Friends of Laphroaig release matured exclusively in the distillery’s four-storey shoreline Warehouse 1, in first-fill Maker’s Mark bourbon barrels, bottled at 104.4 proof (52.2% ABV). Sea spray, storms, and swinging temperature in that warehouse are what you taste as bitter maritime salt and amplified peat on top of bourbon vanilla and honey. This limited Càirdeas is a late-night dram.

Medicinal iodine, vanilla cake, fudge, heather honey, walnuts, and nutmeg open the glass. The palate is peat-reek, tar, and ash against Manuka honey, burnt toffee, liquorice, and white pepper, then a peaty, herbal, floral finish. It is classic Laphroaig turned up: smoke and salt first, sweetness keeping the sip from going dry.