Best single-malt Scotch...

I agree with the comments above about age. I feel that 16 -24 years is generally ideal, although some, lowland scotches for instance, are generally regarded as best drunk at younger ages. But once in a while an over-30 bottle has something magical that I have never experienced from a younger bottle. I have had two over-30's which were not excellent - you pays your money and you takes your chances.

For some reason young scotches are popular in Italy, I can't imagine why.

I am entirely persuaded that avoiding chill filtering is important to tasting the full flavor of a whisky.

45 year old Springbank! I volunteer to help! Rare, and likely to be very different and interesting, but not necessarily "better" than other Springbanks. Scotch really does not improve past the early 30's, as far as I know. But I intend to continue the research...

I agree with whoever above observed that the oak McAllans are not comparable to their traditional format, but the sherry in McAllan is sometimes just too much. You need to keep a few bottles of different types handy!

I will put in votes for the great Glenmorangie and Balvenie bottles, first rank distilleries. They are very rarely available in independent bottlings.

Good call on the Balenvie from what i have read...not tried. But will!!!

I have an older Glenmorangie which i enjoy...a nice gift from good friends who know me well.

I agree with your comments, Lloydc, on the Macallans and have had some non-chill filtered which were wonderful...i enjoy the flavors but would not profess enuf knowledge to know if it was the lack of chill filtering or not.

BTW, i have a rare 34-year old Demerara Rum...exceedingly rare for rum to be this old. Whoa...even my fiancee can drink it straight. It is a wonderful treat we picked up when we popped into the Whisky Shop which has several hundred bottles...and they also had a small rum section of rare rums. Cool!

"The" reference book on scotch is "The Whiskies Of Scotland" by R.J. McDowall. Out of print for years, but can be found online.

The author says there is almost no improvement after 15 to 20 years of aging.

Dr. McDowall has taste tested and characterized most anything you will find in any liquor store.

A must own for Scotch drinkers!

Cool! Thanks, Don_c55. i will look that one up on Amazon to see if they've got it.

"improvement" is a value judgment. lengthy aging changes scotch, which can become very dark and can have unusual, intense flavors, often unlike what we normally think of as Scotch. you should try them for yourself. If you are ever in Edinburgh, go by the Vaults at Leith and try some Society undiluted, non-chill filtered, single malt, single-cask whiskys. Also, the Society has touring tastings in major cities in the U.S.
I consider Michael Jackson's guidebook more useful.