Best single-malt Scotch...

For me it's a tie between 25-year-old Caol Ila and 5-year old Clynelish, with 15-year-old Macallan getting honorable mention, especially with milk chocolate. I have the 10, 12, 15, 18 and 25 Macallan at home, and every so often I do a vertical tasting. I think Macallan becomes less interesting after 15 years. By 25 years, it's a shadow of its former self.

Bowman islay 12 year is a steal at 30.00. It is, to my taste, quite similar to Lagavulin, and at half the price...a hell of a lot like Lagavulin!

Funny I was just thinking of this thread as I just got the details of my birthday trip.... Tuesday we fly to London for two days then to Prague for a week... so I will be visiting my favorite whiskey shop in the world, Cadenheads for some sampling and no doubt buying of rare single casks.....

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me.....

sorry, I meant Bowmore...drinking too much scotch you know!

I agree with Gliderguider's nod to Bruichladdich as an alternative to the better known Islays. But I have to say there are some Laddie's that are relatively expensive and a divergence from the 12 y.o. consumers will generally find on the shelf. In particular, the Links bottling is an outstanding Islay that doesn't beat one's taste buds to death. Limited distilling/release make it an unusual, and pleasing find. Also, Bunnahabhein ('Boonahaveen') is another outstanding Islay, as is Jura. But, if I can find it (and it's increasingly difficult to come by in my neck of the woods) I'd go for the Highland 18, an Orkadian whisky whose peatiness is distinctly more inviting, IMO, than any Islay. As far as combining smoke with a good Scotch, I would use something other than nicotine...