Laphroaig Càirdeas 2022 Warehouse 1

I almost didn't buy this. Although admittedly, my first chance to buy this was during my shore vacation and it was $116 dollars, and I know that at home, when this comes in stock it's $99. Only it wasn't in stock at home yet, and I wasn't sure it would be, so I was tempted, but I laid off because of the early reviews I'd read on this site. You see, I loved the 2021 Cairdeas Pedro Ximenez. It was, in fact, one of my favorite whiskies I've ever had. And the initial reviews I saw on this site for Warehouse 1 were lukewarm. I get that, and I don't get it. The reason I get that is, this isn't as good as the 2021. The reason I don't get it is, this is a very Laphroaig Laphroaig. I am, to an extent, echoing what others have said, but I think this needs to be reiterated. Bottled at 104 proof, it's not quite as high strength as the 10 Year Cask Strength, yet it's a higher proof than the regular 10 year, and even though this doesn't have an age statement, it drinks like a higher proof version of the 10. Now I've never landed a bottle of the 10 Cask Strength yet, so I can't compare to that. But this has everything the 10 has in terms of nose and flavor. Iodine, Peat, Rubber, Tar, so if you like that, it baffles me why you wouldn't like this because here it's more intense and richer. The palate is similar providing a slight edge of vanilla honey coated sweetness on the back end with a long briny finish. I can't imagine you're drinking this if you don't like peated scotch. I can't imagine you're drinking this if this is your first Laphroaig. So again, I'm not sure where the low scores are coming from. I opened this last week in a tasting during a football game where my brother-in-law and dad were over my place. The tasting started with this, followed up with the Talikser Distillers Edition, followed that with Ardbeg Wee Beastie, and followed that with the Nikka from the Barrel. And you know what? All of them were amazing. But this was definitely the best of the lot, and that's a tall order with the Talisker Distiller's Edition in the mix. The DE was the 2021 Talisker, and that's an amazing dram, but this Cairdeas was fuller and richer. Didn't have the same sweetness, but made up for it with the intensity. As a side note, this was matured in Maker's Mark barrels, and I'm thinking that this is sort of like the Maker's 101 of the Laphroaig lineup. Not quite the Cask Strength, but adding a little umph to the standard bottling this likely falls in the middle. Naturally, until I have the Cask Strength, this is just conjecture. But my final verdict is: don't sleep on this. The lower scores than last year's make sense but only because last year's was phenomenal. If you like Islay, if you like peat, if you like Laphroaig, this dram's for you.

Laphroaig Càirdeas 2022 Warehouse 1 is inviting, adventurous, and does indeed reflect the environment it was birthed out of. I'm immediately mesmerized with the color - it's a luscious white-gold, straw-like and subtle. It's feminine and rich while balancing a pearlescent and soft glow. It almost fools you into thinking this particular dram won't house the standard characteristics of Laphroaig, but you'd be mistaken. This one took me a while to get aquatinted with. The nose is initially a bit harsh, but airing things out a bit goes a long way. After a few minutes, I found vanilla and white chocolate sprinkled about almonds and hay. Taking things a bit further, there was a citrus note, a creamy lemon meringue along side baking spices and gram cracker. Oddly, I also found root vegetables, like carrot and beet, bringing the dram back down to earth, quite literally. A drop release a hint of Fuji apple, wet leaves, and Wilshire pipe tobacco. For this being ages so close to the sea, it's not overtly briny or peaty. Those elements are there, yes, but they don't play first seat. They anchor the Scotch, helping to support all the other key players. As a Laphroaig fan, it's impossible for me not to love this entry. This Scotch is bright and flirtatious, and feels like it shares the elegance of a bride, but a bride willing to jump into the ocean with her gown on. In other words, it's the type of adventure most people are looking for. The palate is lively at first, then seems more like a caress. This Scotch is earthy, dry, and salty. The lemon seems to cut through a bit more here, showcasing dried salted nuts, grass, baking flour/pizza crust, with hint of apricot and nectarine. I got a bit of black pepper, papaya, and tropical dried fruits. Again, waiting a minute or two unearths new tones like moss, grass, aged wood and wet soil. This all culminates in a dry and warm finish. This is anything but fleeting, but it doesn't overstay it's welcome. The back of tongue seems to dance for a bit, salivating to alleviate some of the dryness. One is then left with a less than subtle heat in the chest and throat. It's more a hug than abrasive. Hell, it kind of feels like love. I've had other Càirdeas expressions and while great, if I'm being honest, they are the difference between a great meal while dining out, and a great home cooked meal. This expression feels like being around a table, surrounded by loved ones, laughing, telling stories, and leaving that place with a spirit fuller than you ever thought possible. This is, quite frankly, the best things in life we all hope for, wrapped up in a Scotch package. Well done, Laphroaig!

N: Exceptionally fragrant - fills the room within just a minute or so of pouring. Tar, pencil shavings, driftwood, seaweed, kelp, salt cakes, lighter stone fruit, some citrus (watered down lemon), new shoes in the box, vanilla cake. It keeps going. Tennis balls. P: Little bit of red fruit, oak, shredded sweet potato cakes with corn (fried), dried fish, dried seaweed, cooked almond, vanilla infused yellow cake, french vanilla ice cream. F: All the maritime notes plus decent heat, oak, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, chalky minerals, hints of tar and seaweed. Lives up to its branding: this really is a Laphroaig that grew up on the shoreline. It's unmistakable as the classic Laphroaig profile, but with a little more muscle and all kinds of sea notes that really work. I do think it's a bit blunt and lacks some finesse, but that seems unsurprising for an NAS single malt - there is definitely some younger juice in here. At times, that lack of polish is charming. Still, have to wonder what a straight up 10 or 12 year Warehouse 1 might taste like. Better still, I would guess. Maybe such a thing exists (or even older) - I'm not enough up on the full Laphroaig line to know. Please point me to it if you do. _______________________ Please come join an unofficial Distiller community on Discord (now one whole year old!): https://discord.gg/4nfePCdyKM. We chat spirits (and other things) in real time while being a great resource to each other for recommendations, finding deals, and generally enjoying the journey together. (If the link is expired, please post a comment and I will gladly and usually quickly provide a new one. Lately, I have not been able to tag people who have asked for the link, so please check back when you can. Or, better still, look for a more recent review of mine which should have the most current link.)

I’ve been a Cairdeas fanatic for years now. My love for this line dates back to the 2016 release. In all that time, this one certainly has the least sexy name of the bunch. I’m guessing this is a product of their “best” warehouse? It has to be something like that to warrant a release. I’ll judge the whisky on what’s in the bottle. Nose: Sea spray, brine, sea salt, and seaweed. Peat, campfire smoke, and tennis ball. Ballpark pretzel. Floral notes. Irish baking soda. Apple, pear, apricot, and raisin. Hazelnut, salted caramel, toffee, and vanilla. Peanut butter. Heavy lemon citrus. Mint. Black bean red pepper chili. Cinnamon, black/white pepper, and oak. Palate: Heavy salted caramel and saltwater taffy. Sea salt, seaweed, brine. Campfire smoke, rubber, tennis ball. Hazelnut. Vanilla, butterscotch, and toffee. Irish baking soda. Plum, dried apricot, and raisin. Cola. Fig and date. Mint. Grapefruit and lemon citrus. Finish: Ash, campfire smoke, rubber, menthol, and iodine. Campfire smoke. Cola and raisin. Fig and date. Black bean, red pepper chili. Cinnamon, black pepper, and oak. Long finish. Very, very good whisky. Laphroaig always does such a great job with these releases. I think the profile seems most similar to the 16 year. It’s more confectionery sweet than fruity—considering a lot of these Cairdeas releases are wine cask-aged, that’s actually a departure from the norm. It’s also more refined and features less gritty peat, another characteristic of the 16. Now, how does this stack up to the other Cairdeas releases? Most of those were mind-blowing, 5-star whiskies. And this one is only worthy of being called superb. At $90, this is exact same price I’ve paid for Cairdeas releases since the beginning, and you had better believe I’m factoring that into my score. 4.5/5.

When Feis Ile arrives, some serious whiskies arrive as well. Laphroaig has a wonderful collection, called "Cairdeas" that comes every year when Islay is having their famous party. The 2021 expression was out of this world, that is why i was eager to taste this 2022 "Warehouse 1" Cairdeas. Bottled at 52.1%abv, this is Laphroaig's most "Laphroaigish" whisky ever. Pale straw color. On the nose, it starts with something that can be described as a earthy brownie. Floral, earthy, rubber boots, sown land and a horse saddle. Pine tree, sharpie marker and povidyn. It smells like Mr. Clean products; iodine and pepper. Wet grass, seaweed and welding. On the palate, it is a vanilla water. Vanilla ice cream, plastic. Artificial notes; it is very tasty. Simple, but well delivered. Aftertaste was my favorite part. Rubber, grass, a pleasant spiciness and salt. Eternal salty finish. Blood and metallic flavors. Overall, this passed the test. It wasn't as incredible as the 2021 expression, but this screams "Laphroaig" all over the place. A very well delivered and round expression, this one won't dissapoint anyone. My score for it is 91 over 100.

I figured a pour from a 7-month open, half-full bottle would be ready to go. I was wrong. At first blush the nose is salt spray, muted peat and rubber. Palate was hot, salty, a little smoky and overwhelmingly bitter. After 20 minutes of me forgetting about it I realized it was still on the table and gave it another sip with far different results. Nose is still much the same, but now there’s a bit of crab apple to sweeten the aroma and it’s more obviously Laphroaig but still also very Ardbegian. Palate is still spicy but no longer hot, with lighter than expected peat smoke, dry hay, burnt apple turnovers, and a faint thread of honey closing with a pleasant tingle on the lips and gums. Lacks the heft and richness of the 10 year, or those wonderful smoked meats of the 10yr CS.