So with the newest Laphroaig Cairdeas being announced and coming out, as an Ontarian, it’s time for me to talk about last years, and how it hasn’t come out at the LCBO yet.

Which is a tad silly.

Each year, Laphroaig releases a Cairdeas (pronounced somewhere between gorgeous and car chase) as part of the major Feis Ile festival. Unlike the other releases on the island, this one seems to make the rounds more. Granted Ardbeg is catching up there.

So last year they released Laphroaig Cairdeas 2017 Cask Strength Quarter Cask. Simple idea: Take the favourite Laphroaig Quarter Cask, find some barrels, and release them at cask strength. Seems like a recipe for good times.

A quarter cask, for the uninitiated, is a smaller cask then usually used. It’s a fourth of the size. Thus more wood contact, which ages the whisky (seemingly) quicker, though with downsides such…