What's Your Favorite Distiller?

I choose Bruichladdich (incl. Port Charlotte and Octomore of course). Wide range and awesome spirits.

Scotch I would go with ardbeg and for bourbon I would go with buffalo trace mainly for the antique collection

Glenmorangie

@rigmorole: In the old days, unquestionably Talisker - These days, probably Ardbeg, though there are quite a few I wouldn't like to divorce myself from. i.e. Laga., Laphroaig, Caol Ila And of course Aberlour.

Good question!

I'd probably go with Ardbeg simply because of the consistency and the fact that they don't add any colouring to their whiskies. Runners up would be Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich.

Whisky-Laphroaig Whiskey- Heaven Hill (Elijah Craig)

But Aberlour is a close second though

1st choice would be Talisker, 2nd would be Lagavulin.

Unquestionably, Arran. My favorite of the 23 different expressions I've been lucky enough to try was the 1996 single sherry cask #1785 bottled exclusively for the USA in 2011, only 165 bottles. Runners up in no particular order were New Make Machrie Moor distilled in 2011 and peated at 50ppm, Devil's Punch Bowl, and Bere Barley. I'm looking forward to trying the upcoming 16 year old.

Currently, Bruichladdich - they have something for everyone, they're innovators and bottle few duds.

I would pick Aberlour for sure. Every one of their offerings that I've tried has been fantastic.

Difficult this one!

Springbank! Even though I tasted only one of their brands. I like that they do almost everything theirselves, an old fashioned, honest craft whisky.

But for consistency, preferred flavors and quality of the full range I like Caol Ila a lot

Favorite distiller: Karuizawa. There is enough cask variation to keep things interesting, and the quality is top-notch. Scotch... favorite is Brora, but if it's about drinking everyday, then probably Glenfarclas. I love Brora and its profile, but I think that there'd be more variety and quality in Glenfarclas (and who doesn't want an old sherry monster?)

I honestly can't say...

4, or 5 years ago I would probably have said Balvenie - however as my scotch whisky horizon has broadened so has the number of distilleries that I've come to enjoy...

I'll have to spend some time thinking this over.

@Nolinske I concur.

Ardbeg at the moment, although highland park Thor turned my head quite a bit ;)

I with Wodha and Nolinske - Ardbeg for scotch and Buffalo Trace for Bourbon and ryes. Buffalo Trace has a amazing line from BTAC , Van Winkle , down to every day Buffalo Trace and AAA 10 yr.

Glenmorangie, mainly because I like The Original, and trust that Dr. Lumsden will continue to come up with interesting choices. I haven't had the chance to explore the Glenfarclas range, but I have a bottle of the Glenfarclas 105, and it is one of my favorites. Anyone have any suggestions on how to explore the Glenfarclas range?

@Krau; A good place to start is with the G/F 15yo. which is generally accepted to be their signature Malt! It is presented at 46% abv. and is tres delicious. At Glenfarclas Distillery they have the same enthusiasm for stellar Oloroso casks as they do at Aberlour and the Whiskies are not dissimilar!

Good Luck.

@A'bunadhman Thank you, sir! I believe I shall acquire a bottle of the 15 yo within the week! I think it will definitely scratch my "Sherry - itch".

@Krau, if you do it will likely be through the mail or from Canada, because Glenfarclas 15 is not sold in the US.

@Victor I thought I remembered one of their most popular expressions not being sold in the US. Wasn't sure which one. Does anyone recommend the 10yr or 12yr as a viable replacement?

@Krau, everyone has his own preferences with these Glenfarclas expressions. I much prefer the 15 to the 12 and to the few samples I have had of the 17. The 40 yo is outstanding, and everyone seems to like the high-test 105 a lot, though I've yet to taste it or the 10 yo myself.

...put another way, the Glenfarclas 12 is ok, but the Glenfarclas 15 is usually really great.

That might be the hardest question I've had to answer since Grade 12 Calculus. I am partial to Laphroaig, but - if I could only drink scotch from one distillery - I'd have to go with Talisker. Buckets of Laphroaig for the rest of my life might be a bit too much.

Then again - Buffalo Trace?

Buffalo trace for bourbon, If I'm loaded, brora or kuriuzawa for single malt; Springbank at my current salary.

For bourbon I love the stuff coming from Buffalo Trace and for scotch I'm a big fan of Balvenie

I'd hesitate between Caol Ila (amazingly versatile in independent bottlings) and Arran (always new OBs).

I'll take Jim McEwan and Bruichladdich. A never ending variety from a single distillery. :-)

@Victor - I would never disagree with Victor, however my wife's favorite whisky all time is the Glenfarclas 17.