Ardbeg 1972 (Oddbins exclusive)

I'm not sure 1972 was a great year, wheras 1974/75 seem to be great. I would personally go for the 1974 provenance, if your'e looking to splash out. It's about £ 50 cheaper (at Heathrow) and is legendary. Or how about the 1977 - only about £70 (I have a bottle sitting in my cupboard).

I've tried the Provenance and have a bottle of the 77 at home..they are the primary reason I'm so tempted! maybe I should just flip a coin? ... but which coin?

sgrìobh cheeny weeny

Have you opened the '77 yet, I will shortly. I bought a bottle of very young Ardbeg today, probably have a drop tonight. Definitely tomorrow.

Well, I have no experience of the 1972 but it is from the time when the stills at Arbeg were coal-fired (pre-1974, I think). Then the heat was more unevenly distributed which lead to some parts of the wash or the low-wines being overheated. This should add a toffee flavour to the whisky. All these facts were told me by Grant Carmichael who is the former Distillery Manager of Lagavulin, Caol Ila and Port Ellen.

The only Ardbeg I've tried from the coal-fired era is a 1973 from Douglas Laing's 'Old & Rare' series. It was really, really wounderful! I loved the

So, as for the 1972, I'm really tempted too. Maybe it's lucky for my economy that it's a long way to Oddbins...

Cheers! Ingemar

PS. I have a bottle of 1977 (bought in the Old Kiln Shop at Ardbeg) sitting in my cupbord too.

"cheeny weeny" skrev i meddelandet news: snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com...

I've not opened it yet. It's one of a medley for my birthday in late December. Looking forward to it :)

You know what, even if you can afford it easily, I would still be wary. I found this link for a 1972 Ardbeg, but its not OB:

A distillery bottling of Ardbeg is always tempting but there are so many great bottlings around the £300 mark that I would personally shop around. How about:

A 21 year old cask strength committee bottling from thewhiskyexchange.com - £170.

Thanks for that... I caved... it will arrive in early December.

(I need to find more people willing to carry my booze in their carry on lugage)

Enjoy :)