A CASK FALLS INTO BRACKISH WATER – Score: 3/10
The 2018 edition of Laphroaig’s annual Cairdeas release ventures into uncharted territory by employing an ex-Fino sherry cask for maturation.
Fino, like all Jerez wines, is fortified to 15.5%. It is renowned for its fresh and iodized character on the palate. Pairing this style with a Laphroaig promised to be an explosive combination.
Alas, the Fino utterly overwhelms the Laphroaig, amplifying its maritime profile to an unbalanced degree. The natural seaweed notes of the Laphroaig are overtaken by an aggressive iodine presence, evoking the sensation of drinking seawater tainted with cod liver oil and rancid chalk.
While the smoke, a hallmark of Laphroaig, is undeniably present, it further exacerbates this effect, lending the impression of consuming turnip juice.
A regrettable combination, which, for me, renders this vintage a resounding failure.
