Ardbeg (Gordon & MacPhail) Connoisseurs Choice – 12YO Whisky 1972

The Ardbeg (Gordon & MacPhail) Connoisseurs Choice – 12-Year-Old Whisky 1972 is a rare and vintage single malt Scotch whisky, bottled by the independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail as part of their Connoisseurs Choice series.

Background:

• Distillation: This particular expression was distilled at the Ardbeg Distillery in 1972, a period when Ardbeg was known for producing some of its most intensely peated whiskies. The whisky was aged for 12 years before being bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, likely in the mid-1980s.
• Independent Bottling: Gordon & MacPhail, an independent bottler with a long history of releasing high-quality and unique whiskies from Scotland's best distilleries, selected this Ardbeg as part of their renowned Connoisseurs Choice range. This series is known for offering unique expressions from various distilleries, often highlighting lesser-seen cask types or maturation periods.
• Character: Whiskies distilled in the 1970s at Ardbeg are especially prized by collectors and enthusiasts for their robust peat smoke combined with a unique oiliness and complexity that developed in the spirit during this era. Typical flavor profiles from Ardbeg during this period include intense notes of peat smoke, medicinal herbs, seaweed, and tar, balanced with lighter elements like citrus and vanilla from oak maturation.

This particular release from Gordon & MacPhail is especially significant because it provides a glimpse into Ardbeg's distillation style from the early 1970s, which is much sought after by collectors. Being an independent bottling, it is also likely to differ slightly from Ardbeg’s official distillery releases of the same era, potentially offering a unique perspective on the whisky due to Gordon & MacPhail’s cask selection and maturation choices.

In terms of collectibility, a 12-year-old Ardbeg from 1972 is highly prized not just for its flavor profile but also for its rarity, as it was produced during a time when the distillery's output was lower than today, making bottles from this era increasingly hard to find.