Looking for recommendations

@canadianbacon: A good selection of Islay. You might consider a Caol Ila at some time, often overlooked, it is never less than excellent, improves in the Decanter (and the glass) and if you happen upon a Distillers Edn. is certain to astound!

G&M's Benromach has several fine Whiskies all excellent with the standouts, for me, being the Peat Smoke & and the Traditional.

Good Luck.

Caol Ila: In my personal experience, the standard 12 is very underwhelming once you've been through the heavy-duty CS Islays like you have. If you want a Caol Ila, I think you should find a cask strength IB, of which there are many.

Flavor types in scotch that you problaby haven't encountered yet:

•The main "missing" flavor that stands out to me is stuff that's been heavily influenced by various cask finishes. Springbank has some that are well regarded. Glenmorangie has some that are popular. Nearly other distiller seems to have one too if you look hard enough. And you probably know this, but finishes have a very mixed reputation: one person's "missing" flavor might be another's "deliberately avoided" flavor.

•A second "missing" flavor might be distinctly salty and maritime stuff that's not heavily peated. Most people put Old Pulteney in this category (though my experience with the 12 failed to be as salty as I'd hoped). Inchgower, I think, is known to be salty but I've never had it. My recommendation would be a bourbon-matured (not sherry) Campbeltowner. The best would be a Springbank with zero sherry composition (an IB?). I think their 12 CS has too much sherry to tick this box for me. The very best example of this that I've personally had is the living cask of Campbeltown malt in the Cadenhead's shop in Edinburgh.

And if you want to extend to non-scotch whiskies, there's plenty of other flavor types out there. For example, the closed bottle under my bar that I'm most looking forward to is an American hopped whisky made from bottle-ready IPA (Charbay R5).

Try the sometimes called "coastal" malts such as Oban, Old Pulteney and, my favorite, Clynelish. Powerful, thick bodied, and original.

@olivier What he said...Those 3 are wonderful alternatives to anything peated, or sherried.

If you can get your hands on any contemporary Bladnoch I'd highly recommend it.

I also think Springbank is a great one. I definitely like the 12 YO CS and even more the Claret wood maturation.

@canadianbacon The gab in your scotch tasting profiles is, quality neutral scotches. If you have a base of great neutral scotches in your profiles you will appreciate what the peat, various casks or other expressions of scotch.

I agree with Olivier and FMichael, Oban 14, Clynlish 14, Balvine 15y single barrel, Glenlivet 18y, Glenmorangie 10, Tomatin 15y.

What do you guy like in a great Neutral scotch?

@Canadianbacon In the big flavour Speyside category there always the Glendronach Revival and the Glenlivet Nadura. Like Olivier I found that Clynelish has a unique signature. There is also some good blends like The Spice Tree (I haven't taste this year release) and Big Peat ((this year release is excellent). Finally you should try the other Cambeltown, namely the Hazelburn and Longrow. The sugar of the first one is like pecan butter to me while the peat of the second is loaded with petroleum making them quite different from Springbank.

@ Canadianbacon

I forgot, if you really want something different and cheap, go for Lot 40. Yes, it's Canadian!

Thanks guys, this is really good stuff and much appreciated.

@Benancio, I think the reason I value a "neutral" whisky is the same as yours: to help appreciate the peat or the sherry or whatever that's in your other more interesting bottles.

I noticed last year that if I'm drinking nothing but peaters all the time, I get used to the peat and it no longer stands out. I still mostly drink ~80% peated whisky, but I keep always keep a bottle of basic bourbon-aged malt going too to retain the contrast. It's usually my first whisky of a night.

@OlJas I do the same thing, start with a nice (bourbon barreled only) Scotch, then move to something peaty. What is your favorite Neutral Scotch Whiskey?

@Benancio, nothing in that "neutral" category really excites me. Kinda sad. I like Knappogue Castle (I know, Irish not scotch) for the price. I bet I can think back through a few:

•Laddie 10 (current)

•Hakushu 12

•Wild Turkey Rare Breed bourbon

•Glenlivet Nadurra 16

•Redbreast 12 CS

•Clynelish 14

•Speyburn 10

•McClellend's Highland

•??? That's all I can recall.

None of those really do much for me (though they were all decent except for the McClellend's). I ought to just stick with cheap Irish or bourbon to save money, but the idea of some new-to-me bottle is always too tempting. Right now, for example, part of me wants to get a Bunnahabhain 12 for this purpose but I know I'll call it boring once I dig in.

I'm pretty sure I would have lost interest in whisky a few years ago if not for peat. I imagine my peaty zeal would be scorned by those who value subtlety and whatnot.

For what it's worth, I've often seen peat love described as a phase of whisky appreciation that many drinkers grow out of. So maybe it's worth saying that I'm 35 and I started drinking whisky when I was around 30.

Have you tried the rather quirky stuff from the Springbank distillery - Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn trio? If not give them a shot to add to your experience portfolio.

Try some non-Scottish malts. The Japanese malts are great, and you will find that the flavours are a little different and distinct from the malts from other nations of origin,...but it is often not so very easy to describe and to define the differences. Kavalan from Taiwan will give you a somewhat different perspective, as well. As will Brenne, or one of the other malts from France.

US malts are usually a little different too. New charred oak in Stranahan's gives a perspective different from most Scottish styles. (There is a small handful of new oak Scottish malts as well.) Balcones Single Malt is certainly one to try, and unusual.

Then there's that nice Canadian Glen Breton...just don't expect too much there.

I find myself agreeing with @olivier here… As I often do!

@Victor

I might consider Glen Breton a good value for dollar. At half it's price. For something so expensive, I would have expected a bit more Flavour and less anaemia.

@Nozinan ...have you had a recent bottle of GB 10? I ask as I am really hoping these guys can show some improvement, and my 2010 bottle of GB 10 was not something I would buy again. The price has at least come down about $10-15 in the past 4 years.

As for this post...one of my favourite "neutral" whiskies, as it really showcases the malt, without peat and sherry aging, is Glengoyne 10 yo. Everyone should try this, or another similar unpeated whisky, at some point.

@Pudge72 whatever year the SWA sued them for using Glen, that's when I bought my bottles, 2 10 year and 2 ice wine finish. I didn't drink whisky in those days. I figured if they had to change the name then it would be a collectible. So it may be even older...

@canadianbacon I think the Highland's are a nice region to complete your tastings, my personal favorites Deanston 12 (reasonably priced), Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or, Old Pulteney 17. And maybe some Japanese or Indian Whiskies like Amrut Fusion (Indian) or Yamazaki (Japan)?

@olivier Thanks for mentioning Clynelish, I've missed that one till now. Good priced in my region € 30,-. I'll put the Clynelish 14 on my wishlist definitely!