Best Speyside

If you are new to Speyside and have a budget of 400 euros are you sure you want to spend it on one bottle? Wouldn't it make more sense to shop around a little first.

Speyside as region is without doubt distinct from Islay styles but is still very diverse. Why not start with a few less expensive speysides, work out what you like, then spend the big bucks?

You most definately have a good point. My "problem" is that I don't drink very much and I'm not interested in having lots of bottles. I rather have only 10 fantastic ones than 10 fantastic and 30 so-so. I try new whiskies at a pub so I'm not going to spend lots of money totally by chance... A few recommendations to where I should start looking would also be nice.

Start with an Aberlour a'bunadh and a nice old Glenfarclas.

Though my experience in high-cost malts is quite limited, and you specify a finish that lasts a week, I find it difficult to imagine that you could find anything much better than two sherry cask strength power malts: Aberlour a'bunadh and Macallan Cask Strength. Then there is Ardmore Traditional Cask which is very different for a Speyside (and from anything else, for that matter); it is lively and nicely smoky with lovely cinnamon, walnut and almond flavors, and at 46% ... is quite commanding. Try not to let the price scare you away :-)

You should have a look at the linkwood 1973/ bourbon cask / 10th Anniversary bottling, its available on The Whisky Exchange website.It sounds like a cracking speyside going by what the reviews say and is gonna be my next purchase for sure,its going for £150.I just bought the 10th anniversary clynelish which is going for the same price, although its not a speyside it will tick all the boxes for you,its sublime.Happy shopping mate

The Macallan 18 (sherry finish) is a wonderful Speyside bottle. Warm, inviting, rich. But not particularly flowery. The Cragganmore 12 has the most floral nose I've had so far. Finish is not strong, though. ... Have you tried an older Longmorn? The 16 is good.

Glendronach 12 (double cask, not chill filtered) or Glendronach 15 (winner of Malt Maniacs 2009) are two very beautiful Speyside. Or if you want, the older version of Macallan or Aberlour, in my opinion..