Alright, single malt folks... If you had to have four to keep on hand, what would you choose?
I always keep four on hand, and currently have Lagavulan 16, Caol Ila 12, Macallan 12 (double cask) and Macallan 15. The Caol Ila is about kicked, do trying to decide what should take it's place. Not going to directly replace it, as the Lagavulan covers the same ground, only better, and I can get it for ~$67 now. So, anyway, I'm looking for ideas.
My stock single malts are usually Lagavulin 16, Bowmore 12 (or Laphroaig 10), Highland Park 12, and Glenmorangie Lasanta. I find that gives me a great range of Scotch's from challenging to easy drinking.
I've never cared much for the Speyside single malts. I don't understand the devotion to Macallan...it seems pretty lifeless and expensive to me. Especially the Macallan 15 triple cask ($125.00 in my neck of the woods) and some of the Glenfiddich expressions are ridiculously priced for the flavor. That being said, I sometimes buy Glenlivet 12 (when it's on sale) in the summer and I'm feeling like a scotch and soda.
For blended, I like to buy Johnnie Walker Gold when it's available here. I think it tastes every bit as good as the JW Blue, but about 1/5th the price.
I've been trying to up my game for non-scotch whiskeys lately. Bought a Kamiki Cedar Cask Japanese whisky, and Redbreast 12 Irish to add to my top shelf. I'm looking for an interesting and flavorful Canadian whiskey. Any recommendations from you folks would be appreciated.
I've got a Laphroaig 10 tucked away, but my wife won't kiss me after I drink it (and it will even drive her from the room!)...and the iodine in that is strong enough that I have to be in the exact right frame of mind for it anyway. That said, I used a splash of it on the gravlax that I have curing for New Year's morning, it makes for probably the best gravlax I've ever had.
The Macallan 15 is pleasant enough, but probably not one I will buy again (it was a self-congratulations gift for a major milestone at work). The Macallan 12 (the double cask, rather than the one that is sherry barreled throughout) is fine for the price (~$54, typically), and makes a good "I just want a splash of something" scotch.
The Lagavulin 16 will be a fixture. I had a bottle of the Lasanta when I was first exploring scotch, but it didn't make much of an impression on me. I'll check out the Highland Park 12.
I had a bottle of the Redbreast 12 3-4 years ago, it was good, though I didn't feel compelled to get another. I got one of the Maker's Mark bottles from one of their small runs last year (~$75), it's pretty spicy. It's not my go-to, I got it more for my wife so she could have something higher-end while I was having scotch (she far prefers bourbon).
Canadian whiskey is a complete blind spot for me as well...