Review: Laphroaig Elements 2.0, Elements 3.0, and Cairdeas Lore Cask Strength 2025
Laphroaig bottlings have been stacking up at Drinkhacker HQ of late, a perennial problem when the end of the year approaches. Finally we had to break down, line them all up on the table, and get to work. Now that Willem Dafoe is stumping for the brand, we can feel the sense of urgency.
Today’s review looks at the two most recent reviews of the Laphroaig Elements series — we missed Elements 1.0 — as well as the just-out annual Cairdeas release. Details about what’s in each bottle follow, along with thoughts.
Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Review
A darling bottling (and Whisky Advocate‘s whisky of the year last year), this whisky features an extended fermentation cycle, stretching it from 55 to 115 hours. (There’s no information on aging, but it’s presumably aged in a bourbon cask to keep the focus on the fermentation.) Can a whisky mash over-ferment? Question for a future distillery visit. The answer, however, is a lovely one. This is, as promised, a very fruity rendition of Laphroaig, which can normally come across as a little ashy. The nose takes a sweet baked apple character and mixes it with campfire smoke, marshmallows at the ready. A light layer of spice and menthol linger in the background, welcome friends.
The palate offers an initial rush of sweetness, the smoke diverging into fruitwood, which in turn evokes a barbecue character — beefy, with plenty of sweet BBQ sauce. As the initial savory notes fade, the whisky turns its eye to more fruit-driven territory, notes of almost sickly sweet esters adjacent to overripe tropical fruit, especially pineapple. Water really helps to bring it all into focus, the pineapples settling into some peach and apricot notes, layered with a sprinkle of baking spice and some light bonfire elements (with a hint of spent matchhead). The finish is an endless conflagration of all that’s come before — a lengthy conclusion that’s perfect for quiet, contemplative winter nights.
119.2 proof. A- / $165 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Laphroaig Elements 3.0 Review
The twist here is that the kiln used to burn the peat which dries the barley ran for longer and at higher temperatures than normal. So what does effectively burning the peat do to Islay whisky?
Short answer: Mostly what you think. The nose is far smokier than standard Laphroaig, literally showing aromas of burning evergreen branches and dark roast coffee, replacing any medicinal or coastal aromas you might be expecting. Aromas of dark chocolate emerge fast and soon get heavy, and backed up by a pinch of mint.
The palate maintains the theme here, boldly chocolatey with a caramel malt quality that melds nearly burnt sugar with a grassy, almost hoppy quality. Fruit slowly perks up in the form of apple and pear notes — plus a hint of papaya — with gentle layers of dried grass wafting over the top. Coffee makes a bold return on the finish, to the point where this should work perfectly as an after-dinner tipple. All told, it works great — but it’s a scrambled and slightly crazy version of Islay that I’m still grappling with.
110.6 proof. A- / $165 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Laphroaig Cairdeas Lore Cask Strength 2025 Review
This year’s Cairdeas is a cask strength version of Lore, which is a kooky whisky aged in five different types of casks, including bourbon, sherry, virgin oak, quarter casks, and refill Laphroaig casks. The twist is the 59.6% full proof bottling, well above the 48% of standard Lore. Unlike the Elements bottlings above, Cairdeas 2025 is boldly medicinal and perfumed, with almost overwhelming levels of smoky peat, menthol, potpourri, and petrol all punching hard on the nose. It’s a bit much to take at full proof, which is perhaps part of the idea with the whisky.
The palate is equally aggressive and biting, the phenols thick to the point of being overwhelming at times. A mix of torched grass and potpourri flavors make it seem, at times, like you are actually drinking a crazy perfume. The notes of petrol remain thick and biting, with an ultra-sharp citrus character adding ample acidity.
The whisky isn’t wholly manageable at its near 60% abv, and I quickly turned to water to bring it down to palatability. This is just the ticket, turning an unbalanced scorcher into something closer to a fruit bomb, with ample citrus and subtle sherry tones on display. Bright but still perfumed, I kept dosing the whisky with H2O until I finally coaxed out some interesting notes of almonds and milk chocolate, showcasing the spirit’s hidden, sweeter side.
119.2 proof. B+ / $110 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
The post Review: Laphroaig Elements 2.0, Elements 3.0, and Cairdeas Lore Cask Strength 2025 appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider’s Guide to Good Drinking.