Best single-malt Scotch...


I have to give credit to Redwiki for the inspiration to start this thread. Yes, certain malts better compliment certain music or certain moods. Of the fifteen or so different malts in my cabinet right now, my favorites are: Aberlour "Antique", similar to the popular Macallan, but not as syrupy; a bit drier, light hearted and less complicated; great with Mozart and Brubeck. Mortlach "Limited Edition" cask strength. Powerful, smoky, mysterious. Great with Bartok, Berg and late 'Trane. Loch Morar 25 yr old. Incredibly complex and intense, with a hint of honey and flowers. Great with Poulenc, Stravinsky and Bill Evans. Any other single-malt aficionados out there?
frogman
Hey, Kennyt, the place you're talking about in London is the Cadenhead bottle shop. They're the oldest independent bottler. Everything's cask strength and you can tell what they have by what's listed on the chalkboard. Some legendary bottlings have come from them, including a green (really) Springbank that'd been matured in a demerara rum cask. They also have a shop in Edinburgh. Several places in the states get their bottlings, particularly Sam's in Chicago and D & M in San Fran.
Good to see I'm not the only one so obsessed with my Scotch to know of Cadenhead's!!! I'll be there this year for my birthday (May 3rd) with my girlfriend, hope she gets me a present there! If not, I beleive you can bring two bottles a piece back....too bad, a case would do better!

By the way, I've heard little of some others I forgot to post, the Glenmorangie 18 yr old, and their Fino Sherry (12 I beleive) both also quite tasty!
For God's sake, man, be sure to have some real ale (The White Horse on Parson's Green is amazing), cheese from the Neal's Yard Dairy, and Asian noodles at Wagamama as well. And that's besides all the touristy things to do.
The Dalmore 21 year is outstanding and priced reasonably for around $80, Dalmore Stillman's Dram 30 year is excellent also., but the 21 year is the best of the line. These are single Highland Malts blended by Richard Paterson, one of the best noses in the business.
Lagavulin seems to me the closest one can come to being overwhelmed by a deluge, a long ebb and tide reeking of peet and smoke without perishing. Almost existential. Otherwise a partiality for Oban, less idiosyncratic, balanced, smooth. Me mate for single malt does like Macallan - 25 when he can afford it. There's still so much to discover