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

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.

http://kaypingers-whiskyblog.de/frontend/fullarticle.php?id=206 Color: light gold
Nose: Completely different than the Special Release! Smoky, peaty and very farmy. Coal, ash, motor oil, hot asphalt, wet hay and tons of peat bales. Wax, tobacco, cigar box, humidor and only subtly-sweet tropical fruit flavors that try to force themselves through from time to time, but are quickly subordinated again. One of the "dirtiest" noses ever - awesome !!!
Taste: What a power! Incredibly dark, smoky and "dirty" ... again in the taste again lots of peat, coal smoke, wax and only subtle fruit notes, which are lined with honey and vanilla. A taste that you will not forget !!!
Finish: infinitely long loops! The finish reflects the nose and the taste completely - great! An absolutely dark part full of peat and tar flavors.
Remark: The aromas stick to your palate for a week ... just awesome!
96 points (nose: 95 / taste: 97 / finish: 96)

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

This Whisky was sold for 2.805 € at Whiskyauction in March 2015

N: Sweet, fruity organic cow-dung in the face. This dram will time travel you back to the 1970’s to a farm on a hot summers day with an ice-cream shop next door. Order a light white vanilla ice-cream with passion fruits and bubblegum - a tutti-fruity then! Super fresh and vibrant.
T: Husky, oily, mineral peat… then heat <<. Add water for a creamy, milky, viscous body like congealed blood - not that i’d know, or like the mouth residue after eating peanut butter and honey mixed with saliva. Sounds charming i know, but we are talking about chemistry and biology here. Another textural gem of the highest accord.
F: The impact is so huge on arrival and development, the finish for me begun with head wagging and dad-noises followed by a stunned awe-inspiring silence and a ‘wow’ at the death.
C: You’ll be hard pressed to find a finer whisky, ill get a bottle...oh wait!, £3400? [Oct ’14] - aah maybe not.

Scores an A++