Review # 164 & 165: Laphroaig Cairdeas 2018 Fino & Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength 10

Laphroaig Cairdeas Fino 2018

Every year, frog releases their "Cairdeas" line which, is Gaelic for "over-hyped release" or "Friends" depending on who you ask.  This year is Fino sherry.  

Islay - NAS - NCF -NCA -  $75 - 51.6%

Color - Russet

Nose - Sweetness - stewed brown sugar, iodine, vanilla, floral notes, peaches, a touch of brine

Palate -  Honey, tree nuts, smoke, toffee, citrus, iodine

Finish - Medium - Medicinal smoke, creme brule sugar, a bit of ocean peat, lime

Overall - 8 - This is an enjoyable frog for sure.  It is sweet, sweeter than PX.  It is one of the better releases.  It is nice that they bounced back after QC and Maidras.  I would pick up while available, but not chase in the secondary once it disappears.  

Laphroaig 10 CS Batch 10

Islay - 10 - NCF - e150 - $65 - 58%

Color - Tawny

Nose - Apples, vanilla, laphroaig peat but dialed back a little from last release, floral notes

Palate - Toffee, apples, iodine

Finish - Medium - Iodine, smoke, bacon, limes

Overall - 7.5 - This is a standard frog 10 Cask strength.  If you liked batch 9, you will like batch 10.  I snuck in a side by side with batch 9 and there was no material changes between the batches.  Having had both side by side, I will spend an extra $10 and pick up the cairdeas until it runs out.  

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.91

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.16