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1976 Douglas of Drumlanrig Ardbeg Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Islay, SCOTLAND
$3499. 00
Bottle
$41988.00 Dozen
ABV: 55.5%
This deeply coloured, non chill filtered, all natural beauty was selected by "The Scotch Single Malt Circle". Distilled in 1976 and bottled in September 2001 at 55.5% Alc./Vol, it stems from before the distillery's brief closure. Decades of financial mismanagement forced Ardbeg to close in the early '80s with the loss of 17 jobs, devastating the tiny community of Islay (not to mention whisky lovers worldwide). Consequently, Ardbeg bottlings on the secondary market soared in value, gaining a mythical notoriety not dissimilar to that of Port Ellen. A glimmer of hope returned when a trickle of production resumed towards the end of the decade, but the tipping point occurred in 1997. Glenmorangie PLC purchased the distillery and set about restoring Ardbeg and surroundings to their former glory. Distilling was in full swing by 1998. A piece of Islay history. One only to sell.

Other reviews... Colour: amber. Nose: even more sherry but it’s rather simpler, more on the usual chocolate, rum, raisins and dried oranges. The spirit is quite overwhelmed here although it’s very nice whisky of course. Hints of resin, camphor, mint with chocolate, coffee, dried apricots. Extremely chocolaty in any case. Mouth: very creamy, very fruity and resiny, on bitter chocolate and lots of wood, coffee, dark toffee, getting lightly vinous and hugely peppery. Again a good one but the sherry and the wood really dominate the whisky here.
88 points. - whiskyfun.com