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Every Càirdeas tells a story
Càirdeas (Gaelic for friendship) is our annual release revealed at Fèis Ìle, The Islay Festival. It's never the same twice. And it's never for everyone. Only Friends of Laphroaig get access.
You Never Forget Your First Càirdeas
Whether it’s your first taste or one you’ve returned to for years, every Càirdeas marks a moment shared among Friends of Laphroaig. Discover the releases that have defined the legacy through the years.
Càirdeas 2026 is Almost Here
This year, we honour those memories with Unphorgettable Friendships - the kind that begin with a dram and become part of who you are. The kind that stay with you, even as the years move on.
If you’re already a Friend of Laphroaig, you know what comes next. Keep an eye on your inbox for the reveal. If not, there’s still time to join the story before Càirdeas 2026 arrives.
Think back to the first time you tasted Laphroaig
Chances are you weren't alone. The best Laphroaig moments rarely are. There's something about this whisky that draws people together. A shared moment. A dram passed across a table. A memory that stays with you long after the glass is empty.
Càirdeas has always lived in those moments - the ones that become stories, the ones you return to without meaning to. A release made once a year, but remembered far longer. A whisky shaped by the island, but defined by the friendships it inspires.
Every Second Brings Us Closer
The clock is ticking. Stay close as we count down to a release made for Friends.
FAQS
We love sharing our whiskies far and wide, but the Càirdeas series is a little different – it’s available exclusively to Friends of Laphroaig. We see it as a great reward for our supporters.
To become a Friend of Laphroaig and gain access to pre-order a bottle of Càirdeas as well as enjoy other exclusive benefits, all you need to do is Sign Up to Become a Friend here.
You can sign in here, or simply head to laphroaig.com and click on the person icon in the top right corner of the screen. Then, follow the instructions to log in.
Resetting your password is easy. Just go to log in as usual, select ‘Forgot Password,’ and follow the on-screen instructions.
Fèis Ìle Festival
Every year, the island comes alive long before the first dram is poured. Roads fill, glasses clink, and Friends from around the world return to the place where so many unforgettable stories began. This is Fèis Ìle - a celebration of Islay, its people, its spirit, and the friendships forged along its shores.
For Laphroaig, Fèis Ìle is more than a festival. It’s the heartbeat of Càirdeas. The moment each year when we honour the connections that define our community, and unveil the expression crafted especially for our Friends.
As the festival marks its 40th anniversary, Càirdeas 2026 arrives in the spirit of Unphorgettable Friendships - a tribute to the moments shared on Islay and the memories carried home long after.
The countdown has begun. The island awaits.
Lore Cask Strength
Càirdeas 2025 Lore Cask Strength offers a bolder take on a fan favourite. Inspired by Cask Lore, this limited release unites five beloved casks - each with its own story to tell - to create a whisky rich in depth, complexity, and unmistakable Laphroaig character.
Peat and sea salt lead the way, followed by a peppery sparkle with notes of lemon, lime, and caramel. Layers of mint tea, cumin, clove, and ginger build towards a bold antiseptic finish, softened by a lingering citrus sweetness.
Crafted especially for our Friends, it’s a story worth sharing.
Celebrating 30 Years of Friendship
Càirdeas 2024 was a perfect way to mark 30 years of Friends of Laphroaig – and a fantastic example of what the series is all about.
Named Cask Favourites, this 10-year-old expression combined two classics, bringing together flavours from 2019’s Triple Wood Cask and 2021’s PX Cask.
It introduced fruitier qualities to a flavour profile characterised by smokiness and minerality. It was a great way to honour our Friends – and a worthy precedent for our latest instalment to build upon.
A New Chapter in Càirdeas
Our Càirdeas expression for 2023 brought together the best of much loved Càirdeas releases over the years. This limited-edition single malt combined maturation in both Madeira and White Port casks. Three quarters of the whisky was matured in second-fill Madeira casks, releasing smoky, spicy, and sweet fruit flavours.
The final quarter was finished in first-fill Port casks; the majority of these are white port, adding a hint of crisp fruit and deep woodiness to the flavour. The result is a new take on Laphroaig playing to our strengths – welcoming friends old and new.
Where Sea Meets Smoke
Laphroaig Càirdeas Warehouse 1 made for 2022. This whisky is named after our iconic shoreline warehouse which has Laphroaig emblazoned across it in block capitals. It’s our oldest warehouse and is practically synonymous with our whisky, influencing many different versions of Laphroaig throughout history.
Because it was constructed next to the ocean, the effect of the sea is stronger on liquid aged here. Just like friends bring out the best in each other, this maritime influence hoists our classic flavours to new heights.
Where Smoke Meets Sherry Sweetness
Our Friends are always excited when we show them our sweeter side. It’s a surprising part of our character, but our whisky wouldn’t be complete without it. So our Laphroaig Càirdeas 2021 always raises a glass for a refill.
It’s triple matured and blessed with a sherry sweetness from Pedro Ximenez casks. This imparts hints of baking spices, plus rainy notes that’re all too familiar on Islay. And it’s said to have a Christmassy character that warms you up in winter. This limited edition single malt whisky is one of our most popular Laphroaig Càirdeas releases ever. It never fails to get plenty of praise and spark deep discussion over drams among Friends of Laphroaig.
The Port & Wine Cask Edition
If you’re looking for a conversation starter then Laphroaig Càirdeas Port & Wine, released in 2020, is an expression you’ll want to know better. It celebrates the coming together of ideas, which often happens between Friends.
Part of the whisky is aged in our traditional way in charred ex-Bourbon barrels to impart notes of toasty vanilla. The rest goes into ruby Port barriques to pick up the dessert wine’s famous jammy flavours. Once matured, the spirits are blended and finished in red wine casks not usually used in Scottish whisky-making. This gives your dram an extra hit of fruitiness to create a Port whisky that’s sure to get you talking.
Depth Built Over Time
The 2019 Càirdeas Triple Wood Cask Strength is a special triple maturation, first matured in ex-bourbon barrels, then in quarter casks and finally in European oak casks which previously held Oloroso sherry.
The 2019 Càirdeas Triple Wood Cask Strength is barrier filtered and bottled at cask strength to create a punchy dram with Laphroaig’s signature richness of flavour and smoky taste. We recommend you add twice as much water as whisky to enjoy this punchy dram.