To sum it up, if you get the chance to flood your palate with the Laphroaig Caideas 2016 Madeira Cask do it. It’s a smoky giant soaked in sweet wine notes and it’s delicious.
A fun, familiar flavor akin to movie-theater popcorn butter kicks in toward the finish, which is so savory it's almost crunchy, giving the palate plenty to do.
Add water and give it time though, and there is this lightly exotic, herbal, hazelnut-like element. It lacks depth and the tarry thump beloved by many Laphroaig lovers, but is an interesting departure.
The Madeira finish seems a little pointless and disposable to me but it certainly didn’t hurt the whisky and was well integrated. A good, solid Laphroaig that is destined for hip flasks on the shore in years to come. Which is exactly what these bottlings should be I think. Well done Laphroaig.
The Madeira-driven additions don’t add much in the end, but they do give it a little something special to remember… and at the very least they don’t detract at all.
