Best Overall Distillery

I should hasten to add Lagavulin to the discussion...my single favorite open bottle currently in my cabinet is the Lagavulin 16.

If we're taking universal appeal into consideration, I'd agree with Glenfarclas. While the Islay and island distilleries make some phenomenal malts, they're somewhat lacking in universal appeal.

I would vote for Springbank, I already tasted several Springbank/Longrow expressions and none of them ever dissapointed me, great whisky. Besides from that, the fact that the whole process from malting up to bottling is performed at the distillery also gives an extra point.

I dont think you can name a "best overall" because of the vagiaries of individual taste. That said, Ardbeg is the distilery that most consistently puts out expressions that I personaly love.

Based on my collection of bottles, it has to be Caol Ila. I currently have 11 different bottles of Caol Ila (12 if one counts the 17yo Port Askaig). I find that it not only has a great range of OB (the "normal" 12-18-25yo as well as the 8-10-12yo un-peated), but all the IB I have tasted were great (particularly the Gordon & MacPhail ones).

Runner-up would be Springbank with 9 bottles (6 Springbank, 2 Longrows and one Hazelburn).

I must tip my hat to Edradour since Andrew Symington took the reins. The new Bruichladdich would be near the top of my chart too. Lots of creativity and chance taking in both places. Universal appeal? Maybe not, but responses to these types of questions are as subjective as reactions to the whiskies themselves. Consistency? Again, no, but the something new and unusual and surprising with every release makes them consistently different. Although neither distillery nails it for me with every release, they keep it interesting. I like that.

There's got to be room in this discussion for Old Pulteney; 3 "standard" bottlings, 12,17 and 21yo (ok I haven't actually tried the 21 but have it on reliable authority from my good friend @Victor that it won't disappoint) all very competitively priced at their respective ages, no frills, no tricks, just good honest whisky. They may not have the range of bottlings that some distillery's do, but who needs quantity when you've got quality like Old Pulteney?

I put Bowmore into the discussion. In my opinion they make very good whiskies. Just the right mixture of smokiness and sherry.

I'd agree with Glenfarclas as well. Going off what I've read about as well as what I've been able to taste. I like that their pricing puts old whiskies within my grasp, the new 40 year old is on my short list.

You'd probably expect me to say Auchentoshan (and you would be right), but to be completely fair, I don't think any Lowland whisky comes near being 'the best', nor does any Islay in my opinion. I think it would have to be a Highlander (Speyside) whisky. But if universal appeal is an important factor, it would be fair to add Johnnie Walker Red Label to the list (I know it's not a distillery of course, but you know what I'm trying to say). So as always, I guess it's a matter of personal preference, taste and experience. Which brings me full circle to... Auchentoshan :)

My vote is split between Glenfarclas and Bruichladdich...

Given the criteria you have given, among Scottish distilleries, anyway, I would probably say Glenmorangie. "Universal appeal" means something very different to whisky fanatics than it does to the general population. I expect that I will get a greater percentage of whisky virgins liking Sonnalta PX, Nectar d'Or, or Glenmorangie 10 or 18, than any of the Holy Trinity South Islay whiskies.