Best single-malt Scotch...


I have to give credit to Redwiki for the inspiration to start this thread. Yes, certain malts better compliment certain music or certain moods. Of the fifteen or so different malts in my cabinet right now, my favorites are: Aberlour "Antique", similar to the popular Macallan, but not as syrupy; a bit drier, light hearted and less complicated; great with Mozart and Brubeck. Mortlach "Limited Edition" cask strength. Powerful, smoky, mysterious. Great with Bartok, Berg and late 'Trane. Loch Morar 25 yr old. Incredibly complex and intense, with a hint of honey and flowers. Great with Poulenc, Stravinsky and Bill Evans. Any other single-malt aficionados out there?
frogman
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.
Good to see I'm not the only one so obsessed with my Scotch to know of Cadenhead's!!! I'll be there this year for my birthday (May 3rd) with my girlfriend, hope she gets me a present there! If not, I beleive you can bring two bottles a piece back....too bad, a case would do better!

By the way, I've heard little of some others I forgot to post, the Glenmorangie 18 yr old, and their Fino Sherry (12 I beleive) both also quite tasty!
For God's sake, man, be sure to have some real ale (The White Horse on Parson's Green is amazing), cheese from the Neal's Yard Dairy, and Asian noodles at Wagamama as well. And that's besides all the touristy things to do.
The Dalmore 21 year is outstanding and priced reasonably for around $80, Dalmore Stillman's Dram 30 year is excellent also., but the 21 year is the best of the line. These are single Highland Malts blended by Richard Paterson, one of the best noses in the business.