[billybarue]

Lagavulin 16 - outright favorite. Followed by Ardbeg and Caol Ila.

Any Islay fans have an opinion on Finlaggan. Some stuff I've read speculate it is a young Lagavulin. For the price point at Trader Joes I always have a bottle around. I used to love Black Bottle (blend of all the Islays) but it has gotten much more expensive than it once was and, again, hard to find. I think Finlaggan is comparable.

I do like blends. Chivas 12 will always be my standby. It was my dad's drink. My brothers and I always kept a bottle of Royal Salute (21 yr Chivas) on hand for him, but he would drink it sparingly. He said in Vietnam GIs could get Royal Salute for $5/fifth - unbelievable. He had a bottle on his night stand the entire year he was there. 18 year Chivas is not much more than the 15 and worth the extra coin.

Dalmore, Highland Park 16, and Bunnahabhain are high on the list also and many others.