Although I’m not a big scotch drinker (I prefer Irish whiskey), I do like Laphroig. And for a blended scotch, Teacher’s is really good. It tastes not unlike Laphroig.
Hmm.
I know what’s gonna be in my bags when I come back from visiting my family in California over the holidays. 
Glenfiddich. I’m not a big drinker (except when I’m on a cruise ship, apparently), but when I drink at home, I prefer to drink scotch, and my favorite is Glenfiddich. At my previous job, it was known that I liked it and I ended up receiving three bottles of it during the holiday season. This was three years ago, and I still have a bottle and a half left.
For blends, I really like Teachers’.
For singles, I quite like Laphroaig and Dalwhinnie. I had some Bowmore 15 this summer that was outrageously good.
Sorry, but basketball analogies have no place in this thread. If you must discuss sports, it has to be something along the lines of caber tossing.
How about, ‘Macallan isn’t the Alistair Gunn of the scotch lineup.’?
I too want to come hang out with silenus.
for a blend, I seem to keep getting bottles of Chivas.
for single malts I have been working my way though the various different offerings from Glenmorangie.
Some good stuff there. I do want to try some cask strength next.
I’ve only tried J&B blended scotch which I despise. I’ve heard that single malt is a different story than blended. Any recommendations for a novice or should I stay away?
Uh oh! Looks like silenus had better lock his liquor cabinet! 
Well, I suppose it’s possible that you might hate blended but still manage to develop a taste for single malt, but, well, see, I hate scotch; all scotch. You can reverse the equation, too. For instance, to me, there is a huge difference between Budweiser and Sam Adams; it all tastes like bat piss to my husband (don’t ask how he knows what bat piss tastes like; let’s just say it involved a college initiation right. . .).
I kid, I kid.
Is that scotch as in Whiskey distilled in Scotland?
Are the Irish allowed in?
Laphroaig 10.
Just a couple years ago, it was like $33, then $38 and this last year it’s going for $43 around here. Scotch prices have really started going through the roof. It’s almost impossible to find a bargain nowadays. $60 for Laphroaig 10 is crazy, though.
For Islay stuff, I also like Lagavullin 16 and the Laphroaig 15, but the 10 has it’s charms over the 15. I’m not drinking Laphroiag to have something refined or smooth and I think the 15 takes some of that edge off.
I really like Oban, too. And Campbelltown Springbank.
Macallan 12 is the Scottie Pippen of scotch. It’s not bad, kind of smooth, but thinks it’s better than it really is, and will never win anything on its own merits.
silenus. . .the Macallan cask strength? Yikes. It needs too much water just to make it NOT taste like gasoline. I think the alcohol flavor really overwhelms any of the sherry and caramel you can usually taste in Macallan.
I’ve seen a Laphroiag cask strength, too, but I had such a bad experience with the Macallan cask strength that I haven’t even tried it.
Hm. ‘A couple of years ago’? Might not be $34/bottle at Trader Joe’s, then. I haven’t been in California in 12 months. Still, $43 is better than $60!
IMO Laphroaig 10 is quite smooth. And I like the peaty taste. (Someone else mentioned it tastes like charcoal.) Once I engaged in a bit of Comparative Alcohol Appreciation. (i.e., a taste test) I bought a bottle of Laphroaig 10 and a bottle of either Glenlivet or Glenfiddich (whichever one comes in the triangular bottle). I preferred the Laphroaig.
It might be $34 there. It varies state to state and Trader Joes always has a way of getting good prices on things, right?
I’m a Glenmorangie fan myself. I really enjoy the wood finishes, especially Madeira. I can’t seem to find anyone who carries this in New York, so I’m stuck buying it duty free and hoarding it like I’m fearing the apocolypse.
I’m also partial to Johnnie Walker Swing - another something I’ve only found once duty free. Very surprising how smooth and woody it was. That too is hoarded. I refuse to finish the bottle just in case I can never find it again.
My everyday scotch is Johnnie black.
First of all, do not stay away. Find a bar that has decent prices on single malts, and drink one or two in a sitting (always neat), noting what you like and dislike. Remember, it’s the journey that counts…
As for a specific single-malt, the one that got me hooked was Oban. It’s reasonably priced, not too complex for the novice with a light, smokey taste. Then, after sampling many, many single malts, you’ll settle on Laphroaig, my current favorite for it’s complex peaty taste. YMMV.
Enjoy!
“independent bottlings”?
Springbank 12 year old from was fantastic but I’ve never found it again.
Normally? Highland Park, Talisker and anything that tastes like medicine from Islay.
Another Laphraoigh fan.
Mmmmmmm. Iodine.
Talisker, smokey with the longest of heart warming after tastes.
It’s heartwarming to see that the Islay malts are so well appreciated here.
Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Ardbeg, all wonderful. Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain are a little milder, and don’t quite evoke that specific mood. I still want to try Coal lla, and there’s a 30-year bottle of Laphroaig that I’ve got my eye on. It’ll be my birthday gift to me on my 30th birthday, if not sooner.