Best single-malt Scotch...

Frogman, you did a much better job than I did getting this topic going. On those cold winter nights the combination of a good malt and good music forms a combined magic that is obviously shared by others here. This thread is intriguing because I agree wholeheartedly with so much that has been said. Of what I consider the affordable single malts, I agree with the Lagavulin, with Talisker coming in a close second with the Dalwhinnie, Bowmore and Oban up there too, but there are some nights and moods when I find myself in agreement with Dekay and prefer one of the Balvenies. When you step up to the more pricey vintage malts, I agree very much with the Springbank recommendation too. Hifiharv - chocolate or cheese are what I like, you are not alone.

Loch Dhu is my favorite. Recently I've been enjoying Dalmore, Glenfiddich, and Pinch, too.

At our music gatherings Scotch is the drink of choice, for me in particular. My most consumed includes Aberlour 10 and 15 year old, Balvenie Double Wood, Macallen 18, and (now discontinued) Glenfiddich Cask strength 15 year old. I love 25 year old Macallen and Springbank 18, but both are too expensive to keep on my bar. I sometimes favor Cognac, and still have one bottle of Jules Duret from 1986. I cannot bear to finish the last of it, as it cannot be replaced. My best friend loves Laphroig, I remind him the dog in little rascals was named "peaty" and that he too may develop a huge ring around one eye if he keeps swilling it down. He ignores me.

Gentlemen, glad to see such spirited response to my thread. Along with Redwiki's inspiration, what prompted this thread was the anticipated return of my wife from London where she occasionally goes on business, and always returns with one or two new (to me) malts; often times purchased at the very enporium that Kennyt mentions in his post. Is that a babe or what? Anyway this trip produced a bottle of Auchentoshan 21. Excellent lowland malt. Extremely smooth, medium body, on the sweet side with hint of orange zest. Perfect, as I have just found out, with some Jarlsberg cheese and dried figs; thanks again Redwiki for the suggestion. I think I'll put on some Satchmo.

Hey, Kennyt, the place you're talking about in London is the Cadenhead bottle shop. They're the oldest independent bottler. Everything's cask strength and you can tell what they have by what's listed on the chalkboard. Some legendary bottlings have come from them, including a green (really) Springbank that'd been matured in a demerara rum cask. They also have a shop in Edinburgh. Several places in the states get their bottlings, particularly Sam's in Chicago and D & M in San Fran.