What style of scotch do you prefer?

I love rich smoky whiskies. I like peat, but the malts that are heavier in SMOKE than they are in actual PEATINESS are my favourites. I find Talisker to be a bit like that. Also some HP and even Caol Ila. Caol Ila is a bit more on the peaty side, but I still like the dry smoke.

Smoky Islays after a long, hard day.
Sherried Speysides on a hot date Crisp Lowlands on a hot, summer day

I have tried most styles via my cabinet. I must confess I keep coming back to Glenmorangie. How the men from Tain manage to achieve such a sweet balanced whisky is unbelievable!

@Apollo I agree. I have never had a Glenmorangie that I didn't like.

I like them all so far! That being said, when I think I deserve a treat from my meager collection, I usually gravitate to Talisker or Laphroaig.

If I had to choose an all-round favourite, I'd go with an Islay malt. My personal favourite being Laphroaig 10. But hey, it does depend on what mood I am in and what I'm doing at the time. I would never have a pre-dinner Islay, for example - that would just make everything taste like peat. If I went beyond Islay, I'd say a Highland Park or Glenfarclas 105.

I have to say I like all of the styles, but I tend to like smoke and peat. Usually along the lines of Talisker or Highland Park as of late.

My preference tends to be Islay, Caol Ila and Lagavulin being the two most preferred.

Out of the 3 single malts I have tried, I prefer the "Sherry Bomb"-style, the Aberlour A'bunadh. I don't really like the peated Islay style, but it does make for a different experience.

I still have a lot to try however, and have included Highland Park and Talisker in my near-future wishlist.

Personally, it depends on my mood. At times I'm looking for something like a good balanced Speysider like Aberlour A'bunadh, or one of the Glenrothes vintages. At other times I'm in the mood for something heavier, with a good sherry finish like the Dalmore 15, or some other interesting finish like my new bottle of Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask with a rum finish. At other times I'm looking for something smoky, like the peppery campfire taste of Talisker 10, the lighter peaty notes of Highland Park 12 or Jura Superstition. Then there are times that I'm really in the mood for a dram of one of the peat monsters from Laphroaig, Ardbeg, or Lagavulin.

That's what's so great about being a Scotch lover, there's so many choices, so many different flavors, that it never get's boring!

I agree that as one's palate matures, you develop a preference for the heavier, Islay whisky. My go to Scotches are Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Talisker and Lagavulin. However, I also like the more bourbon style flavors in the highlands, and the occasional Glemorangie or Balvenie in the summer when I want something lighter.

Absolutely Islay. And from this small island there is a shockingly vast range of flavors and styles. For a daily dram I like something fairly turbulent. I want to sit down and let my drink consume my thoughts for a while. Peat, heat, bite, smoke: all wonderful details to get lost in. Uigeadail has been ticking all those boxes lately. When drinking with friends I'd pick something richer, more sultry and comforting; a sherried Islay like Bowmore Darkest, or a special Lagavulin? There's also really exciting stuff coming from Islay: especially from Bruichladdich and Kilchoman, which challenge many notions about what the Islay style represents.

Off-Islay favorites are Highland Park, Talisker and Springbank. But the recurring theme for me is peat, smoke, salt and heat.

I love highland sherry bombs and peaty Islays.......so my favorite are sherry finished Islays

I love the Islays, and in particular I find that the Ardbegs are in a league of their own. To me the only thing that can compete with the Islays is the Aberlour A'bunadh.

It's an interesting question and somewhat difficult to answer. Overall I prefer the Highlands to drink on a regular basis I guess but I think the ones I find most precious are the Islays

dont remember where I got the suggestion from (could well be Ralfy),but I have been drinking 4 part Irish to 1 part islay,its very very pleasant.

Adding to my comment about my preference for Islay - JUST picked up an Elements of Islay bottling of Laphroaig!

@Smokehead Interesting, I wonder if that would work as well with a lowland (triple distilled) whisky?

Interesting comments had by all! I find myself strangely intrigued by highland park especially HP18! This whisky introduced me to perfect balance!!!

Generally it's the Islay malts that I tend to gravitate towards however, I am also in the Glenmorangie camp. I have yet to find one I didn't enjoy. If I could pick only one it would have to be Lagavulin for me.

@Apollo - LOVE the HP18! Love it.

May I change my answer? With the passing of each day I lean more toward nothing but Islay/island.

I like all styles of Scotch. Everything depends upon the quality of the individual expression. While it is true that my highest, most frequent preference is for Cask Strength drams of all whisky types, and for this reason I usually love the high-test Islays and the high-test sherried malts best among malts, I am very able to appreciate a mild-mannered or delicate whisky like Dalwhinnie 15, Glenmorangie Original, Aberlour 10, or Balvenie Founders Reserve. And, at other times, I am very happy to drink some of the blends, including Johnnie Walker Gold, Clan MacGregor, J & B Rare, Black Grouse, and Compass Box Asyla. I note with interest that one of my top favourite malts, Highland Park 18, gets so much acclaim. It certainly deserves every bit of it. I see Highland Park 18 as a whisky that exists in a balance between Scottish Malt genres, and I like that fact too. I don't believe that stereotyping by region or even general style doesn't add much to understanding in a field as nuanced and with as many variables as has whisky-making.

Please omit "don't" from the antepenultimate line of the previous post.

@Victor Well said!

My wife and I generally prefer Speysides, although I have to be honest that I enjoy a really nice bourbon as well and will try anything that's put in front of me at least once.

Of late I have been trying different types of rum! Like scotch rum has many types!