That session you want to fix up round your way suddenly seems more viable… 
Steve
Please send me the address of said friends.
I’ve got a few bottles I bought that I’m not too fond of, the two current ones that I do enjoy are the Bowmore Darkest Islay and cask strength Edradour</a](http://www.edradour.co.uk/index6.html">Edradour</a)>. I visited the Edradour distillery a few years ago, it’s the smallest on in Scotland and a fun place to visit.
In their order of preference:
Jameson 1780
Tullamore Dew
Powers
But when I am in a single malt mood, give me an Islay… especially this one:
Currently I have a bottle of 1780… just one bottle… if I have more than one, the whiskey disappears too quickly… go figure. 
A friend who obsesses about such things told me of a visit he paid to one Scottish distiller of single malts where the grounds are patrolled by a flock of geese. The owners swear by the geese’ viciousness over having watch dogs. Any ideas which distillery this might be?
djm
I’m a bourbon boy. Woodford Reserve or Maker’s Mark for sipping, Knob Creek for meditating.
Ballantines?
Talisker’s my favorite single-malt Scotch; Laphraoig comes a close second. I like peat. Someone once gave me a bottle of 12-year old Glenlivet and it hung around in my cabinet for another 12 years before I finally finished the bottle…I found it boring.
My Italian landlord makes his own grappa and gives us a bottle every year. We’re still only halfway through the first bottle and we’ve been here three years now. Not boring, just powerful!
In my cabinet, there’s a bunch of glasses, cups, plates, and I think a mouse. No alcohol, though.
Maker’s Mark is a lot like Scotch - very similar recipe. I like it when I’m in the mood for a brighter flavor. The Woodford Reserve ('nother favorite) distillery is not too far from here - the research center where I work held a reception for the presenters at one of our big conferences and it was quite a hit. There were a number of participants from Scotland and they seemed quite pleased.
But if I want a single malt, Laphroaig. Or maybe Talisker.
BTW, have a look at http://whisky.com/brands/index.html
Roger
For Single Malts, yes, there is only one way to go.
For Blended Whiskey, you really shoud try if you havent,
That’s Johnny Walker Blue label, the youngest element in it being at least 60 years old.
If you like peat you’ve gotta try Lagavulin - its definitely the “peatiest”. You can get Lagavulin water to go with it, if you like water with your whisky, its beige because of the peat bogs it filters through!
hmm, peaty it is, no question, but would you really say it’s more peaty than Ardbeg? Hard to say i find.
I’m more of a top shelf tequila man:
Usualy a good French and if not available, then Argentine Mountain or Chilean or Californian blanc sautern and preferrably fruity if I hear about a lablel from somebody I trust.
Whiskey if for maniacs and sick people, but what would I know descended from the Royal Higland Clans!
Oow la la hark at you!
I like everything everyone has mentioned in this thread so far.
Steve
This has to be a Scotsman’s dream, selling brown water for $$$.
Fishie, you left off the Don Julio 1942. If you haven’t tried it, you’re in for a treat. Be warned, 1942 is very top-shelf and the price reflects that. For 95% of the taste at 20% of the cost, try Don Julio Anejo.