The 2016 edition of Laphroaig’s Cairdeas (pronounced CARE-chuss) is finished in Madeira wine casks, and the nose has notes of grilled peaches and pineapple along with the usual peat smoke and medicinal notes one expects from a Laphroaig. There are also touches of blueberry cobbler, oak, cooked fruits, and a hint of iodine. The taste is intense with a good peaty smokiness, grilled fruits, cobbler, and a tartness not present in the nose, along with hints of heather, iodine, and driftwood campfire smoke. The finish has a lingering smokiness balanced with fruity notes that dance gently on the tongue and the back of the throat. (July, 2016)