Beam Suntory’s Laphroaig® is excited to announce the much-anticipated annual release of its Laphroaig Càirdeas edition, Laphroaig Càirdeas 2022 Warehouse 1, to celebrate Friends of Laphroaig. This year’s Càirdeas release will be available online from Laphroaig Day on 31st May during Fèis Ìle Festival 2022.
Warehouse 1 has been exclusively matured in first-fill Maker’s Mark bourbon casks and aged in Laphroaig’s landmark warehouse, resulting in the iconic notes of peat, smoke and salt. Each cask reflects the unique maritime character of Warehouse 1, which has stood for almost 200 years – the impact of its four-story structure and exposure to the sea is reflected in the strength of this bottling.
The smokey notes are coupled with the sweetness of Manuka honey, toffee, and the herbal taste of liquorice, white pepper and oak spices. The golden liquid stands out with its floral aftertaste, whilst the strong scent of vanilla cake, fudge and heather honey remain present on the nose.
The release of this limited-edition bottling from the Laphroaig Càirdeas series was developed by John Campbell with newly appointed Laphroaig Distillery Manager, Barry MacAffernow taking the reins. Càirdeas, meaning friendship, represents the Friends of Laphroaig, which has brought together Laphroaig’s most devoted fans and followers since 1994. Every year, the unique release rewards the loyalty of this community.
Laphroaig Distillery Manager, Barry MacAffer, has said: “I am thrilled to announce the launch of our 2022 Càirdeasedition, named after the iconic Warehouse 1, answering the call from Friends of Laphroaig to make a Càirdeas release that reflects a classic Laphroaig. This limited-edition bottling has been created not only for the community, but by them. Warehouse 1 will also be launched in time to celebrate Laphroaig Day at Fèis Ìle Festival 2022, which returns as a non-virtual event for the first time since 2019. We are all very excited to see both familiar and new faces at Fèis Ìle Festival once more.”
To celebrate Laphroaig Day on 31st May at this year’s Fèis Ìle Festival, Laphroaig is offering a number of exciting activities, ranging from a masterclass with Distillery Manager, Barry MacAffer, to cask tasting and bottling.
While ticketed events have now sold out, entry to the distillery will be complimentary from 10 am and will include a gift bag of goodies, as well as live music, whisky and cocktail bars, catered food, local stalls and a personalised engraver.
Activities taking placeat the distillery on Laphroaig Day:
From Barley to Spirit tour – The visitor centre team will take guestson a journey through the distillery.
Where have the years gone? – The Filling Store and Cooperage area will be transformed back to 2020, 2021 and 2022, giving guests the chance to taste whiskies that they have missed out on.
Cask tasting and 250ml bottling – Guests can visit Warehouse 1, taste whisky from 3 different casks and bottle your own 250ml bottle to take home.
Manager’s Master Class – Guests will join Laphroaig’s new Distillery Manager Barry Macaffer in Warehouse 7, who will showcase his all-time favourite Laphroaigs and a mix of rare cask samples. Customers will also receive a signed bottle of Càirdeas.
Inside Warehouse 1 – Join Linda and Tracy-Ann inside Warehouse 1 as they take guests through a tasting of Cairdeas releases over the years.
An Introduction to Laphroaig Tasting – Join Billy, Laphroaig’s new Visitor Centre Manager and Pamela, Laphroaig’s new Assistant Distillery Manager as they take customers through different cask samples in Warehouse 9.
Tasting Notes:
Cask details: Exclusively matured in first-fill Maker’s Mark bourbon casks in our iconic Warehouse 1.
Nose: Peaty, sweet and nutty with notes of peat smoke, medicinal bandages, Germolene, iodine and antiseptic cream, but also strong vanilla cake, fudge, heather honey and golden syrup, walnuts, nutmeg with a touch of floral fragrance.
Taste: Strong peat reek, tar and powerful ashy notes but also sweetness of Manuka honey, burnt toffee, liquorice, oak spices and tannins, white pepper, dried herbs and dried flowers.
Finish: The finish is peaty and carbolic with herbal and spicy notes leading to a floral aftertaste.
