These names bring back old memories of my dad who didn't speak much English but knew some "important" names: Talisker, Oban, Glenmorangie... I dont drink but every time I visited him in India (when I lived in NJ) had to get him that single malt plus a Chivas Regal (his favorite standby)...

Some interesting bottles in the thread, among those cited Ardberg 17 was a long time favorite. Among the less known my vote goes to

Royal Brackla (Signatory vintage late 70s)
Auchentoshan 21
Jura (again Sign Vitage, mid 70s)

And some highlands that won me over the years (less explosive, less obvious if you want)
Ardmore (classic)
Ichmurin (among the clearest ones, recent introduction)
Dalmore (Connosiseurs Choice bottles, late 90s will do)

I'm not sure where to post this since it is neither Scotch nor Bourbon, but since it is smokey I figured this thread is more appropriate. Anyway, on a recent business trip to Sweden I picked up this in Stockholm: Svensk Rök (translated: Swedish Smoke). It has a nice, light flavor with a definite smokey taste, but different from Scotch since it has some juniper notes as well.

The fruit, spice, concentration are insane.  Easily the best sherry-cask only matured scotch that I have ever had.
Adding water brings out gobs of sweet, round fruit.  Brown sugar.  Cinnamon residue at the back of the tongue on an exceedingly long finish.  Candy for a scotch- with all the backbone of spice (some christmas spice) from just the right amount of barrel char and good oak.  Nothing out of place (except the amount of alcohol at cask strength).  Control temperature and strength with properly cooled water.  (I enjoy the best wines and scotches when temperature in the glass is controlled naturally by sitting outside at the right time and on the right day...)
Again, I have had sherry cask finishing that I adored and especially liked the double wood finishing of the Murray McDavid 1993 Morlach where they used Guigal Syrah casks and then finished with vintage port casks giving perhaps more complexity but also some measure of blunt/oxidized/extracted presentation as well.  This one is so well put-together and in a different area. Still want some more of that Murray McDavid '93 Mortlach but this is a great bottle and a study in carrying fruit through the process. 

Damn!  Is there a way to still get a bottle of this?

Springbank, cask strength, is what I liked best after living and drinking in Scotland for three years.

But these days I tend to gravitate more to small-batch Mescal...