Heavyweight peat smackdown No 2, Islay v Highlands v Campletown (Longrow)

https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/13186/longrow-14-year-old
https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/5578/ardbeg-1972-dl
https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/7690/ardbeg-1965-ca
https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/66937/bowmore-1971-ses
https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/10905/longrow-1973-rwd
https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/11880/caol-ila-1969-gm
https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/43054/glen-garioch-1975-sa
https://www.whiskybase.com/whiskies/whisky/9531/brora-1972

Longrow 14 year, palate and particularly the finish are monstrous for only 46%
A stellar whisky

Ardbeg 72 DL, superb nose, palate just a little behind but overall Longrow is better

Ardbeg 1965, disappointing all round

Bowmore, not bad but expected more, blind I would have said it was a heavy sherried Speyside dram.

Longrow 73 RWD, nice enough but too bitter for me

Caol Ila 69 , really nice, just lacking a little in complexity
Glen Garioch 1975 SA, Brutal but brilliant

Brora 72, Brutal but brilliant also

As things were so evenly matched after the Brora I had to try the Geerie again and I actually think is shaded the Brora on taste but I also tried the Longrow 14 again and for 46% it is awesome and on a par with either the Geerie or Brora.
The Geerie, Longrow 14, Brora, Ardbeg 72 & Caol Ila were all quality, the Bowmore was fine but far from impressive and the Longrow 73 RWD & Ardbeg 1965 were very disappointing compared to their high average scores

Result
1 = Glen Garioch
1 = Longrow 14 year
2 – Brora 1972 RM
3 – Ardbeg 1972 DL
4 – Caol Ila 1969
5 – Bowmore 1971 Ses
6 – Longrow 1973 RWD
7- Ardbeg 1965 Cadenhead

I think I need to re try the Brora 72, Glen Garioch 75 and Longrow 14 H2H again, in truth my palate is a little smashed after this level of peat

Huge and unforgettable - when I opened the bottle and poured a glass for the first time, a mixture of rich smoke, glue, wet wool sweater, cowshed and old dusty leather wavered towards me and I didn't really like it at first because it was so extreme was.
But with every further glass the desire for this unusual whisky was awakened. The longer the bottle was open, the better it got. The extreme dirty note was increasingly associated with its complexity, which was simply fascinating.
One of the best and most unusual drops I've had in over 30 years of whisky experience.

I like Brora very much - especially the smoky and leathery ones. This one is really smoky - almost becoming a bit Ardbegish.

Brora 71 &72 Douglas Laing v 72 Rare Malts x2 x v 75 Rare Malts v 74 3rd release OB v 75 Samaroli Coilltean 1975 Glen Garioch.

Old Brora H2H + Glen Garioch

Tasted in this order

Brora 1971 29 year 50% 210 bottles Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask
Brora 1972 29 year 51% 228 bottles Douglas Laing Platinum Selection
Brora 1972 22 year 58.7% Rare Malts OB
Brora 1972 22 year 61.1% Rare Malts OB
Brora 1974 30 year 56.6% 3rd Official Release
Brora 1975 20 year 60.75% Rare Malts OB
Glen Garioch (Coilltean) 1975 57% 480 bottles Samaroli Flowers 13 year

This line will be right on the edge of my limit but there are mini H2H of the Douglas Laing and the 1972 Rare Malts and as I have score the 75 RM the same as the 72 before so threw that one in. The 3rd release Brora is by comment consent the best of the 30 year official releases though I think the 2005 & 2006 are just as good and the Glen Garioch is the leveller, I have scored it the same if not better that the RM 58.7% last time and is similar to Brora and a beast of a malt, I call it the punisher and remember it is only approximately 13 years old

I rate Brora higher than any of the Islay distilleries, there is peat and then some. but it’s not just about the peat, Brora has for me anyway a greater depth pf profile than the best Islay Malts,
But look at the young Geerie, that is a match for anything.

The 1972 RM 58.7% reigns supreme closely followed by the 3rd annual release and the young Glen Geerie shows its quality & power, I wonder what the Gerrie would have been like with another 10 years of maturation the mind boggles

RESULT
1 Brora 1972 22 year 58.7% Rare Malts OB
2 Brora 1974 30 year 56.6% 3rd Official Release
3 Glen Garioch (Coilltean) 1975 13 YR 57% 480 bottles Samaroli Flowers
4 Brora 1972 22 year 61.1% Rare Malts OB
5 Brora 1975 20 year 60.75% Rare Malts OB
6 Brora 1972 29 year 51% 228 bottles Douglas Laing Platinum Selection
7 Brora 1971 29 year 50% 210 bottles Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask

Tasting notes are on the distillery pages

This is how I rate the 1972 Brora I have tried.

1 - 1972 29 year 59.5% Douglas Laing Platinum

2 - 1972 22 year58.7% Rare Malts OB

3 - 1972 40 year 59.1% Travel Retail Exclusive

4 - 1972 1st Annual Release 30 year 56.3%

Although I gave 1 & 2 96 points the DL edges it for me.I did not include any 1972 G&M Connoisseurs Choice because they are only 40%.

This review is from a decent sized sample.