Anonymous wrote:MHO--not worth it. I picked up a bottle at duty free, and I'm utterly bored by it.
Not saying it's not good--I don't think it's a marketing thing for suckers. I just don't think it's THAT good, for the money.
My regular Scotch is the Macallan 12, which you can pick up for about $45. If you want to spend a little more, Lagavulin is very nice and very smoky. A little less, you can get almost the same kind of thing with Laphroiag. Glenmorangie is a good starter single malt, in the 30's range. Glenfiddich and Glenlivet suck.
If you really want to splurge, try the Macallan 18. It's a totally different thing. Smoother, sweeter, no bite at all. It's around 100 last time I checked, but that was a while ago--may be more.
If you like blended, not single malt, Johnny Walker green or gold label will be perfectly nice and not as expensive as the blue. I also hear the Japanese whiskys are nice, but haven't tried them.
Aside from thinking Laphroiag is a bit too medicinal tasting, personally, these are excellent recommendations. There are frequently specials on the Macallan 15 year old in this area. Also, Oban 14 is a good one to try.