This my story, and I hope there is someone out there that can and will help me:
I will be 50 this year, and I have been drinking single malts for about 25 years. I have come to love the peatiness of south Islay, drinking mostly Laphroaig (10, cask strength, tripple wood) over the years, and trying many others (Lagavulin, Caol Ila, various Bowmors and occasional others). My best friend turned 50 last year, and we share our whisky preferences, so we decided to buy a really good bottle to celebrate our half century on this earth. He has recently had a dram of a 1975 Ardbeg (don't know which bottling) and said it was heavenly (he asked for a good whisky, and probably wouldn't have had it had he known he would have to part with upwards of $60 for the shot)! So I started searching the Internet for a whisky that would cater to our preferences, and which we could afford. The best I came up with (and not a bad choice in my humble opinion) was a 25 yo Laphroaig, 2008 bottling, US version.
What I really want, though, is to get my hands on a 25 YO Ardbeg - that would be perfect.
I have no idea regarding the different vintages and bottlings from Ardbeg around that time, their comparison to the 25 YO Laphroaig, or any other whiskys of that type - I could really use some expert advice here!
The bottom line - I am looking for whisky to drink, not collect, as a once in a lifetime (then again, I may repeat it, but this would be a first time experience) venture into the super-premium market.
I want good drinking value,
regardless of collector's value, and my experience so far has led me to south
Islay.
If you made it so far, you have both my thanks and my appreciation, and you also have the information you need to assist!!!
I hope I can get some of your advice - this is unchartered territory for me...
Kind regards.
Yori