First of all, before we continue, a little clarification in order...
"Whiskey" and "whiskey" are the correct spellings of this word, but they are used for whiskey produced in different parts of the world.
"Whiskey" is produced in the USA and Ireland.
"Whiskey" is produced almost everywhere.
My favorite alcoholic drink until relatively recently was beer. I still love a good cold beer, especially when I'm relaxing on a hot day. However, beer was dethroned as my favorite adult drink when one of my hunting buddies brought a 12-year-old Glenlivet to a hunting camp about 6-7 years ago. I liked it so much that I decided to try as many different varieties of Scotch whiskey as possible. I've always liked bourbon, too, and I sometimes enjoy a good bourbon, but I still prefer a fine single malt Scotch whiskey. My tastes have changed a lot over the last 5-6 years, so I no longer rate Glenlivet 12 very highly and I don't even think it's that good compared to other options.
I've tried something like 40 different single malt Scotch whiskies and several blends. Again, my tastes have changed significantly. In general, I prefer single malt varieties aged in former sherry barrels rather than bourbon barrels. At first I didn't like peat scotch, but now I like both peat and non-peat whiskey, if the whiskey in question has a pleasant balance of flavors with an excellent aroma and a long, pleasant aftertaste. As much as I hate to admit it, I think I've become a Scottish snob.
Overall, my favorite distilleries in general should be Macallan, Glenmorangie and Highland Park. I really liked everything I tried from each of them.
My favorite single malt Scotch whisky I've tried so far (I think) was Macallan 18 (the cask sherry version). However, considering that the prices of this substance have risen to $200-260 per bottle, I will not buy it in the near future. So I may be overestimating this based on my memories of the times I've been to restaurants. Perhaps it wouldn't have remained my favorite if it had been rated so that I could try it more often; I don't know.
So far, here are my top favorites, ranked roughly in order of preference:
1. A barrel of Macallan sherry 18
2. Glenmorangie Signet, Highland Park 18 and Old Pulteney 21 (draw in 3 games)
3. Talisker 18
