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| Wine & Spirits |
Spirited Portfolios
Richard Carleton Hacker
01/01/2004
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• Signatory. A highly respected independent bottler, any of its 21 years and
older cask-strength whiskies are worth acquiring.
• Ardbeg. This once-dormant distillery, which produces the smokiest of all Islay whiskies, was reopened in 1998. Although newer vintages are now being aged, the 1975, 1977 and 1978 vintages were bottled from the older barrels, when the distillery was doing its own maltings. In time, demand for these vintages may grow, as most of the bottles purchased have been consumed. Still available: Ardbeg Provenance, released in 1997, a cask-strength bottling of the oldest barrels (1974) found in the warehouse. This release comes in a wooden box with certificate. Also worth noting: Ardbeg 1976 Manager’s Choice, a sherry-barrel-aged, cask-strength whisky only available at the distillery.
• Glenmorangie. The distillery’s earlier, one-time offerings garner the most attention by collectors, especially the 1963 (first vintage bottling) and 1971 vintages. The 1977 vintage and the 21 Year Old Elegance, which comes in a crystal decanter shaped like a pot, are both still available. Art by Jonathan Barkat
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