I went to count, and am embarrassed to admit there are no fewer than 18 all together (I found a lonely Edradour lurking at the back)<BR><BR>Some of them are very good- the Linkwood is a 23 year old- and remain unopen.<BR><BR>But I'd happily bring them all to a whisky party if someone else'll organise it. The Lochside in Bowmore would be my pick.

Highland Park (shit name, great whisky) from Orkney is my favourite, but if I want one that jumps up and bites my bum, then Lagavulin from Islay.

Old Sheep Dip...I am not kidding ...is not bad!!<BR><BR>My DH favorite - Lagavulin or Laphroig<BR><BR>Mine- Dalwhinnie

I like several but The Macallan (18 year old if I rob a bank) or Highland Park are probably my absolute favs.<BR><BR>When I want a blend to splash w/ water I stick to Grouse or Bells.

After a high roller scotch tasting, I'll cast my vote for the Tallisker. Friends brought some home and agreed.

Not many Isle of Jura fans out there! I too rank it among my favourites, especially the Island of Jura! where are you Jura lovers??

Jake, it's Okkkkk:) but not a patch on most of the Islays.

Ok, I must try get to I slay sometime!!!<BR>and who on earth said Bushmills?? bit of a no contest with your malts!

Glenfarclas 105 or 17 yr old are both wonderful. Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish is another I enjoy, along with Highland Park and a few others.

Janis: Agree with Famous Grouse as blends go. When we want the occaisional scotch old fashioned, we use the "Grouse" with a bit of water rather than soda. Otherwise, Macallan and Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish are still the favorites. Brought back a beautiful thirty year old Dallas Dhu on last trip.

I guess its all a matter of personal taste. I certainly enjoy Macallan and Glenmorangie, but don't really like Tallisker. However, on my last trip to Scotland, I was introduced to Ben Nevis and really, really liked it. Too bad it is so expensive in the U.S.

I'm with Sheila. I like the Islay malts best. But the last time I was in Scotland, about four years ago now I guess, I found time to visit the tiny Edradour distillery and brought away a bottle which I never opened. A couple of years after my trip my brother Christopher won an all expenses paid tour of the single malt distilleries in Scotland -- a wonderful prize for someone so devoted to his malts. But the morning they were going to Edradour he had the opportunity to visit a fish hatchery nearby and as a limnologist, he seized the opportunity expecting one of his mates to pick him up a bottle while there. Well, they didn't. Guess where my Edradour went?<BR><BR>Incidentally, my son and raise and occasionally breed whippet dogs here in Canada, using bloodstock we have imported from England over the years. Our number one stud dog had a fantastic win in Scotland before we brought him over so we decided to name his pups after single malts. We are close to running out of names now and were glad when the last litter only had one pup (Avalonia Bunnahabhain). We greatly enjoy hearing news of Islay in Sweden, Glenfiddich in Finland, Glenlivet in France, Bruichladdich and Glenmoray in Germany etc. Meanwhile we still have Jura (a little wispy and thin boy rather like the real Jura), Lagavulin and Macallan (robust, full bodied girls) and Laphroig (a smooth and rich coloured laddie)at home!<BR><BR>

I notice from my newspaper that the Bunnahabhain distillery is advertising 4 cottages for rent at the shore near the distillery & the village.(01496 840646)<BR>Jake, Jura used to be my favourite, now its Bunna.

if you are in glencoe go to the distillery there. the local whiskey was extremely good either neet or with a small splash of water

The cottages at Bunnahabhainn are lovely and the views great.<BR><BR>The only downside would be the fact that, as they overlook the Sound of Islay, you can't swim there safely (given Scottish temperatures, you might not want to awim anyway)<BR><BR>Peter, I don't wish to rain on your parade, but, as I said elsewhere, I promise there is no distillery in Glencoe. Are you mixing it up with somewhere else?

thanks for all your comments! I must visit Scotland again and try all these wonderful suggestions! too many whiskys to choose from!

I would have voted with Glenmorangie, being an uneducated whisky drinker, prior to our too-short trip in November. We quickly found other, preferred tastes (such as Mcallan) which will lead us to be lighter in the pocket in the future, undoubtedly! Sheila kindly introduced us to Edradour and we accidentally stumbled across our favorite, Deanston, almost out the back door near Stirling!