LCBO (Ontario Canada) suggestions

You've written this to look like you want just one bottle for the occasion.

Well, throwing in the casual whisky drinkers into the mix I would probably bypass the usual cask strength fan faves, like A'bunadh, Uigeadail, Corryvreckan, etc. You have specified universal appeal.

If I were making the choice for this group, I would probably select Aberlour 18. My other top choice would be Glenfarclas 25. I would also consider Redbreast 12. (too bad you can't get the Redbreast 12 Cask Strength yet at LCBO, it is gentle enough for the newbies.)

Hell, on second thought, they can all handle A'bunadh. I'd get either Aberlour A'bunadh or the Aberlour 18 yo.

old pulteney 21 y/o is available for $229.95. overpriced? sure, but what isn't at the lcbo. is it a good whisky? yes.... best whisky in the world? far from it, imho....... the fact that it was named so will intrigue the casual whisky drinkers, and any of the more advanced drinkers would likely welcome the opportunity to try it if they haven't done so already. plus, if it doesn't go over well you can always tell your guests to take it up with murray......

The Macallan 18 though overpriced in Ontario is almost universally liked as far as my experience goes. Any older Glenfarclas (generally a great deal re: age/price), Springbank 15 or 18, highland park 18 is well liked as well. There are a few bottles out there that ar not regular offerings, like the Duncan Taylor Rare Auld bottlings...I had a Cragganmore 18 that I absolutely loved (and I'm not a fan of the standard 12).

My friends have made a bunch of excellent suggestions ('thecyclingyogi' makes a particularly compelling "all-around" argument for OP 21). I would add Highland Park 18 to that list as it has 'award-winning' appeal for casual fans and does really touch on all of the whisky styles in one bottle, for the advanced drinkers.

Good ideas here. Thank you. Any thoughts on a Canadian Whisky? Crown Royal seems to be a staple in Ontario... What about XR?

@mrj, there are two connosr discussions on Canadian Whisky with a lot of commentary and quite a few recommendations. My short list of what to buy, in this order: Wiser's Legacy, Gibson's Finest Rare 21 yo, Danfield's 21 yo.

Alberta Premium is also nice, but only if you don't mind some sweet winey flavours mixed in with your 100 % rye mash whisky.

Correction: sorry, the Gibson's Finest Rare is 18 years old. (not 21)

Wisers legacy is the best Canuck tipple to my palate.

@mrj Anything by Forty Creek, especially the Port Wood Reserve if you can find it.

The LCBO at Crossroads has a Johnnie Walker Blue Label tasting. There is also free engraving on the bottle if you buy a bottle. A personally engraved bottle of JW Blue would be impressive, wouldn't it? I know it's overpriced, but it's a celebration. Anyone?

So, I ended up with Highland Park 18 (very tasty). I appreciate the other suggestions. In particular I loved the idea of the Old Pulteney 21 ... I know I set my cap at $250, but in the end I couldn't bring myself to spend $229 on something that I wasn't sure about. The HP18 was the safe bet. I also purchased the Johnnie Walker Blue Label custom engraved to present as a gift to a client. I think that will go over quite nicely, as well.

@mrj...excellent choice, going with the HP18! Your client will also be extra impressed when he notices that that the JW Blue has been recently jacked up from $250 to $290 (...and I thought it was overpriced BEFORE!) Hopefully you were able to buy it at the $250 and put the saved $40 to another bottle for yourself!. :)