Oban. Delicious, delicious Oban.
Runner up: The Balvenie
For those of you who dislike scotch, I recommend trying a sip of Johnny Walker Blue. I hated scotch more than you could imagine. Upon tasting the Johnny Blue, however, I finally understood what the appeal is. That stuff is amazing. I still woudn’t drink scotch regularly, but I would enjoy going to a tasting or something. It turned me from a scotch-hater into a scotch-appreciater in one sip.
Open one this New Year’s with your mom and drink a toast to her husband! 
Laphroig is my hubby’s favourite (I’m a beer drinker). There is a bottle of Lagphroig called Quarter Cask…it is not sold in Canada however. I can’t order it from their website because of that.
Anyone near Islay? Can you see where I’m going with this?
I prefer Higland Park, my bf prefers Laphroigh(sp?).
-Tikster
There are a number of independent bottlers that buy stores of whiskey in the cask, and age them themselves. Signatory, Gordon & McPhail, The Cooper’s Dram, etc. Some of these are very nice, as they are different ages from the official released bottles. You can generally find them at any large, well-stocked liquor warehouse, or at an on-line retailer.
Personally, the only Islay malt I can stand is the Bowmore 17. Well, and maybe the Bunnahabhain. The rest are just too…too. Bowmore 17 is just right.
**Trunk ** - I don’t think the cask-strength Macallan needs that much water to open it up. A bit is called for, I agree. But I like it powerful. Hell, I drink 107 proof bourbon all the time! 
Glen Livet. I can’t stand blends, but I love single-malts. Wierd, that. But The Glen Livet is very accessible.
Alright, hopefully sometime in the near future I’ll have an opportunity to try out the suggestions.
Cheri, a product of Washington State.
Thanks for all of the responses everyone!
The cold must be slowing down my brain functions. I only just got this.
Yum. I love the Madeira Glenmorangie too. I also want to hang out with silenus. I’ve been trying to get my hands on Edradour.
Other favorite Scotches are: Dalwhinie, Laphroaig, Oban, Talisker, and Bunnahabhain. Yum. Yum. Yum.
So…
then the party will be at my place, I take it?
Glenlivet is my standard pick.
I’ve tried Johnnie Walker Blue once at a local restaurant, but haven’t been able to find an extra $170 for a bottle of my own.
I’ve never tried Laphroaig, (I think it’s something about not consuming something I can’t pronounce), but I think I’ll have to get a bottle for the holidays.
Mom’s in Phoenix, and I’m in NoWA. I’m having a houseguest over Christmas through New Year’s.
Bunnahabhain Single Highland has the best ‘nose,’ IMO, but Laphroig has a slightly better ‘mouth.’ Either would make me very happy.
I like scotch but evidently haven’t had the opportunity to appreciate it as much as you folks.
Johnny Walker Red is my favorite. I like it better than Cutty or J&B.
I’ve never even heard of nearly all of the brands mentioned here.
So what makes Johnny Blue worth $100.00 a bottle more than Johnny Red?
Ummm…make that $200 more!
Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Character
Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s intense and luxurious nature recalls the authentic character and taste of the pioneering 19th Century Walker blends. A toasty, sweet aroma is complemented by a peaty and spicy taste that develops into heady flavours of oak, dark-chocolate and rich fruitcake. Comprising just 16 of the world’s rarest whiskies, Blue Label’s appeal to true Scotch connoisseurs rests on the blend’s dominant Islay malt whisky, balanced by several rich Speyside malts that have undergone exceptional periods of sherry oak maturation.
Bottles I will gladly shell out money for are Lagavulin 16, Laphroaig 15 (very similar to the Lagavulin), and Glenlivet 12. I’ve tried quite a few others that didn’t stick with me as much. I like the 10 year Laphroaig too but I have to be in the mood for it. It’s great when I’m in the mood. I prefer Islay malts and I don’t like sherry finishes as much, which is why I don’t like the Glenlivet 18 as well as the 12. That’s also why I don’t like McCallan very much. It’s really good whisky, it’s just not to my taste. I’m currently working my way through a bottle of Ardburg 16, which is also very good, but a bit tamer than some Islay malts.
This thread made me realize that I need to go whisky shopping again soon.
One of the bars kind of close to my area a has a decent scotch selection, surprisingly good considering that it’s in a relatively small city in Japan. They recently got a small barrel of Caol Ila cask strength. Wow! Getting to taste one cask strength whisky definitely made me want to seek out more.
I like Glen Moray, but that’s mostly because it is distilled near where my ancestors came from.
The best to drink? Glen Rothes by far. It’s got a hand-written label, so you know it’s good!
That’s insane! It makes me want to go to the Duty Free shop and pick up a bottle just because it’s a bargain.