Best single-malt Scotch...

Ardbeg or Talisker

Russellrcncom,
You won't find anything near the phenol levels in Octomore by Bruichladdich. This is the whopper you speak of. If that's too much you might try Port Charlotte also by the Laddie. Ten year old PC being released this year.

Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg all fit the bill although some more than others. Try Ardbeg Alligator if you can, they charred the hell out of the casks for this one.

Also, although very young, a dram of Kilchoman might be to your liking. This distillery was founded in 2005 on Islay.

Ledaig from the Isle of Mull is Tobermorys smokey offering.

As much as I hate to say it, take a charred stick, put it in a bottle of cheap single malt, let it age a month or two and voila a smokey Scotch whisky. This may sound crazy but a friend did this and it was surprising. If you can get a Scottish stick, all the better. But warning, don't do it to a fine old rare bottle for fear of ruining it and threatening the wrath of the whisky gods upon you.

Oh yeah, forgot. Sounds like the Macallan might be going towards no age statement whisky. Their latest entry level release @ 40% ABV NAS. Exactly how old is anyones guess, 5, 6, 8? Don't really know. This while many other distilleries are upping their ABV from 43% to 46%. Any less than 40% ABV and you can't legally call it whisky in Scotland.

Also, their "fine oak" releases are disappointing when compared to their sherry cask offerings. All their whisky was once sherry cask aged and they built their reputation on it.

I think we're seeing the results of such high worldwide demand for single malt Scotch whisky that some distilleries just don't care what they're putting in their bottles. Hopefully they won't all go this route.
Sorry for the rant!

You all need to join the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, if you are at all serious about Scotch. The commercial bottlings listed above are all good, but the best bottles I have had were single malts which were single-cask, undiluted, and not chill filtererd. I suppose my all-time favorite was a 16 year old Ben Nevis, but can not remember the exact bottle number. Some over-30-year olds (which I collect, up to a point - I wouldn't want to die with an undrunk collection) I have had contained bottled happiness. I don't know how they capture that, but some bottles have it.

Curriemt11 mentions the 1966 Springbank Local Barley. I drank my bottle of it, and it was wonderful - I would certainly rank it above anything else mentioned here. Little did I know it would be worth thousands, but I buy the stuff to drink, not admire or keep or resell. I have had other Springbank bottles which I liked more.