Which one were we drinking in your last gaff? 'Hog
Har. The ultimate single malt, I believe. The 1974, which dates from the time when they had their own maltings, before they started to buy it in. The only way I know to obtain Ardbeg from before 1978 is through the excellent offices of Messrs Gordon and Macphail, independent bottlers to the gentry. http://www.gordonandmacphail.com/TastingNotes/ardbeg74-43.pdf That's the puppy, maybe available direct or from Allan Robertson, proprietor of the finest tiny whisky supermarket in the whole of Atholl Road (Pitlochry High Street, to you) which is where I found it. Prolly not cheap, but well fucking worth it IMO.
Thanks, the '76 is certainly available £100 a pop. I doubt the difference will be that evident to ordinary folk. Lord of the Isles 25y/o must be worth a dram too I reckon. Some of the early bottling of the '74 are selling around the £400 FFS, how much were you skinned? 'Hog
The difference is readily apparent, mate. The '74 and '76 are smokier to the nose and tongue and the finish is longer: comparable to Lagavulin, but even more complex and sweeter. Heaven in a glass for a whisky drinker. I've not tried the Lord Of The Isles, but I reckon it would be well worth a go. My bottles of the '74 cost me less than 50 quid. I can't remember exactly, but even when I had liquid assets, I wouldn't pay more then 50 - I'd never dare open it! Investigate Robertson's: they have a highly-regarded mail order service - google for the phone number and email, contact them for a current stock/price list. If it's out there, the old boy can get it and if you have three or four bottles out of his stock he'll do you a good price ... I've always had the third or fourth (the cheapest one, obviously) for nothing, or close to it.
