'top 3 bottle' for your cabinet

for me these three have be consistantly around for 15+ years now Talisker 10 Lagavoulin 16 Glenfiddich 15 (once called the Solera Reserve)

In my rather limited experience, since it's 'top 3' bottles we're talking about, I would go for 'home run' bottles that are fairly easily available. I'm in agreement on the Lagavulin 16 (for a smokey/peaty profile), Booker's Small Batch Bourbon (for a non-Scotch offering...though this one does not seem to have made it to the UK), and Glenfarclas 15 or Aberlour Abunadh (this one based on sample only...I don't have an AA bottle yet!) for a sherry profile whisky.

for me: highland park 25,glenmorangie nectar d`or and finally anCnoc 12.

A'bunadh, (any expression); Highland park 18yo.; Ardbeg Corryvrekran.

@A'bunadhman...agree with you on HP 18, if you want an All-Scotch cabinet, I would switch out the Bookers. If you want a bourbon in the cabinet that is more easily available than the Booker's, Evan Williams Single Barrel would be a good (and very well priced) substitution. And yes, I know I have now listed six bottles for my 'top 3'...oh well. :)

Top 3 (easily purchased and reasonably priced) Lagavulin 16, Aberlour a'bunadh, Willett 17/18 YO Wheaters

Top 3 (current limited releases) George T Stagg, William Larue Weller, Ardbeg Alligator

Top 3 (non-current releases that I felt I had to stock up on to maintain in inventory for some time) Old Rip Van Winkle 15 YO, Signatory Benriach finished in Château d'Yquem, Compass Box Spice Tree (1st Release -non SWA approved)

Top 3 malts: Ardbeg Uigeadail, Highland Park 18, and Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX (A'bunadh=#4)

Top 3 of all types, and reasonably available (in the US): Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye, Pappy Van Winkle 15 yo (Stitzel-Weller distillate, now becoming rare), and Old Potrero 18th Century Style Whiskey

Top 3 hard to get bottles: Abraham Bowman Private Barrel 10 yo Rye 69%, Willett "Sopressata" 18 yo bourbon 69%, and Anchor Old Potrero Hotaling's Whiskey.

(and two fantasy bottles: 1967 40 yo Duncan Taylor Springbank, and 23 yo Willett "Iron Fist" Rye.)

Unquestionably for me is Lagavulin 16, Laphroaig Quarter Cask and Highland Park 12 (not having tried the 18 yet). This is the all Scotch cabinet. For other whiskies, it would be Booker's, Jameson, and Wild Turkey. All drinkable, as mixers or neat.

As a follow up, I would say that a Macallan 12 or 18 could be in my all Scotch cabinet as well. Always smooth and satisfying without being overpowering.

I think if I could only have three bottles I would have the following

1. Talisker 10
2. Highland Park 18
3. Caol Ila 12

Some others that were in competition for the top spots were, Compass Box - Peat Monster Compass Box - Spice Tree Ardbeg Uigeadail Red Breast 12 Aberlour A'bunadh George T. Stagg Glenmorangie Astar

Highland Park, RedBreast, Stranahan's Colorado.

Nice picks@OCeallaigh. How about these for alternates: -Ardbeg 10 -Talisker 18 -Glenfarclas 15

I am gonna go with 3 that are always available, and always good to turn to. Ardbeg 10 Lagavulin 16 Aberlour A'bunadh.

Lagavulin 16, Glenfarclas 15 and Talisker 10

My "everyday, easily replaceable" top 3: Talisker 10, Glenfiddich 15 (Solera Reseve), Monkey Shoulder My "I will cry when I run out" top 3: Bruichladdich Infinity 2nd Edition, Bruichladdich Cuvee 'E' 16yo (Sauternes), Tamdhu NAS

Hmmm...tough one. For me, with reasonable availability...And from amongst the bottles I've opened/tried*:

Aberlour Abundah Ardbeg Corryvrechan Van Winkle Lot B

Covers most of my bases...I think.

*list subject to change based on trying new drams, time of day, mood...etc.

Newbie here, first post, need help. I see Lagavulin 16 widely praised in here. I tried it and couldn't get past the heavy iodine nose and taste. I hated it. Am I missing something? Did I get a bad bottle? Thanks!

Must be in my cabinet: Glenmorangie 10 Year Old, Lagavulin, and Highland Park 18 Year Old

Should be in my cabinet: Glenmorangie Signet, Highland Park Earl Haakon 18 Year Old, Bowmore Laimrig 15 Year Old

Well, from my limited cabinet, Ardbeg 10, Laphroaig QC, and Talisker 10. I hate to admit it, but I'm becoming a complete smoke ho.

i will always replace an empty a'bunadh, laga 16, and hp18.

not necessarily my top 3 favourite, but my cabinet would not be the same without them.

Wow, this is a tough question!! Initial reaction is: Bruichladdich Ten (the new 10yo), Ardbeg Ten and Springbank 15yo.

@bobnoxy Don't worry. the heavily peated whiskies are very much a love them or hate them affair. You will either slowly grow to love them or you will detest them for the rest of your life! I have a feeling that I will be in category 2 and don't really care as theres a whole world of other types of whisk(e)y to enjoy. No one group of people is correct or incorrect, just different.

@BlueNote Unfortunatley, I have never tasted Talisker 18 or Glenfarclas 15. While I was in the states, Glenfarclas 15 wasn't available to me, and since then the opportunity just hasn't presented itself quite yet. But I definitely want to get my hands on some of those ASAP. (I have definitely had Ardbeg 10. Excellent haha)

Thanks! @IainVH

I've got two clear favourites. - Suntory Hibiki 12 yo - Mackmyra First edition

The third "always must have bottle" is still to be discovered I believe....

Nikka from the Barrel Lagavulin Distiller's Edition Ardbeg 10

This is such an exciting time to be a whisky drinker. I remember when any given shop in any given town offered three single malts. Now it seems more new expressions than that are released every week.

So I don't fall in love with any whisky. There isn't one I absolutely always must have on my backbar. I find it much more rewarding and challenging to rotate the bottles with a mixture of some new offerings and some old standards that are new to me.

Right now my top three are the old Bunnahabhain 18, Arran Sherry Cask 1996 (USA exclusive), and BenRiach 1995 single cask peated 15 year old that was finished in a PX sherry cask.

I think in my case the ones that have been my top 3 are Laphroaig 15, Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or, and Lagavulin 16. I really need to get those last two back into my cabinet.

Glenmorangie 10, Lagavulin DE , and Ardbeg 10. But this might change tomorrow

Glenmorangie Sonalta PX, Ardbeg 10 & Glenfarclas 105