Best single-malt Scotch...

Phaelon,

Basil Hayden is the best of the bunch, in my opinion. Wonderful stuff. As for single malts, I invite you to take a look at my system photos:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vaslt&1130505439&view

Note the LP rack...and half of the whisky collection on top :) (the other half is on the other side of the room). By the way, the second bottle from the lower left is Basil Hayden. You should, in my opinion, test the Scotch waters further. Single malt whisky has a wider range of flavors and aromas than any other spirit, and some of the best aren't necessarily that expensive. Slainte!

You musn't forget the best of the Islays (IMHO)....Ardbeg.

Well, I find the concept of a 'best' single malt to be just as elusive as 'best' preamp or a 'best' speaker. It doesn't exist. Depends far too much on weather, attitude, time of day, or whatever. HOWEVER...if my arm were twisted, I would point the gentle reader to this:

http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/vs/i/f/1194193217.jpg

In the center of the top shelf, just to the left of the Macallan jug, is a bottle of 1973 Longrow, which is my all time favorite whisky - and not by a narrow margin. Unfortunately, it is effectively unobtainable now. Several years ago, I saw a bottle go for 600 pounds at a Glasgow auction. I lived in Aberdeen for 4 years in the 1990s. This was going for about 30 pounds ($45) at the time. If I had only known...

I'll be opening that bottle on the day I retire. Incidentally, Longrow is available again. It's made by Springbank, using peated malt. For those of you who like both Springbank and the Islays, give it a try. Not the equal of the 1973, it's still very, very good.

I lived in Scotland for 6 years, and developed quite a taste for fine single malts. Now, I'm personally partial to the smokier Islays, particularly Ardbeg. I recently had a nice long visit to several of the distilleries and questioned them about pricing. There are several factors, the most important of which is just plain old increased demand for a product that hasn't kept up supply. The worldwide recession has apparently not affected whisky drinkers very much.

Here's something to think about. While in Aberdeen, I began to collect various examples, especially from closed and/or dismantled distilleries. I figured what's better than a consumable collectible? I occasionally check the retail prices of some of the rarer bottles, and can assure you that those prices have gone sky high in recent years. Examples...I paid 30 pounds (about $50) for a bottle of 1973 Longrow. That bottle is now worth over $2000. 1966 Springbank Local Barley at 70 pounds, now going for $3000. The point here is not the value of this collection, but rather that, just as in audio, folks will pay up for the best. If the supply of the best is limited, prices must rise. Pretty fundamental stuff.

I'll share one more little story. In 1996, I bought a bond from the founders of the Arran distillery. They sold this to start production, buy the equipment, and so on. In return, the boldholders received 7 cases of 'Founder's Reserve' single malt. Arran makes a very fine whisky, which I would describe as similar to one of the less peated Islays. Highly recommended if you can find it. meanwhile, if you're ever in the Houston area, come on by for some music and a dram or two.

First - and please accept my apologies - I have to correct numerous spelling errors. It's Laphroaig. Nasty one to remember, I admit.

For those who do love and/or admire this fine whisky, I might suggest an Ardbeg Uigeadail. I opened this up last weekend, and think it's one of the best examples from Ardbeg in quite some time.