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The Macallan 18
Glenmorangie 18 Extremely Rare
Old Pulteney 21
Can't get enough of these right now.
My first post
My Scotch holly trinity:
- Lagavulin 16YO
- The Macallan 12Yo Sherry Cask
- Ballantines 17YO
Few of other whiskys I found exceptional
- Lagavulin 12YO
- Aucentoshan Three Woods
- Ardbeg Uigeadail
- Kilchoman Loch Gorm
- Longrow CV
- AnCnoc 12YO
- Bowmore 18YO
Lagavulin 16

Talisker 10
Glendronach 15
Oban 14
So I take this thread to mean "which three bottles will your liquor cabinet never be without?" I have many whiskies that I really enjoy, but when they are gone I will likely replace them with something else. Not that I didn't thoroughly enjoy them, but because there are so many other great whiskies to try!
However, there are a few that I always keep around:
1. Johnnie Walker Blue Label
2. Cardhu 12
3. Lagavulin 16 (I prefer the Distillers Edition but I can't always find that)
Honorable mention: Macallan 25. That used to be in this category except the price has just gotten out of control.
Just like the OP, I think these cover the majority of my hankerings: when I want something super-smooth, the JWBL can't be beat. When I want peaty and smoky, I know of nothing better than the Lagavulin. And for the money, I think Cardhu 12 is one of the best Speysides around.
I agree with your thoughts on replacing with new brands/years as I still have so many to try. At this point my one bottle I will keep on the shelf is Ardmore Legacy.
Would have to include an Islay and a sherried speyside so mine would be:
Ardbeg Perpetuum
Glendronach 18
Springbank 15
Various expressions of Macallan sherry oak are,in general, on another planet but they are just so expensive these days they come in the fantasy category for me.
I would have to go with
1. Laphroaig Quarter Cask
2. Lagavulin 16
3. Talisker 10
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban close behind
If I had to pick 3 then I would have to say
1-Ardbeg Uigeadail
2-Abelour A'bunadh (any cask)
3-Glendronach 15 (Not sure if it's being produced anymore)
Hard to pick only 3 whiskies. As stated by others taste and accessibility changes over time, but there are a few distillers that keep returning.
1. Springbank, both 15 and 18. If you ever get the chance, try out the 17 sherry wood, my current favorite, it is just an explosion that never seem to stop.
2. Islay whiskies are tricky as I love them all. Picking one, I would have to say Caol Ila. I know it doesn't have the same ring as the others but it always reemerge in my cabinet.
3. And then I just love the old fashioned 12 and 18 Macallan. What the heck are they doing these days? If they continue screwing up I might just change this to Balvenie. Ever tried the 30y ? Expensive yes but what a treat.
The good thing is that we all like different things and thus we can all share each other's good fortunes.
My three:
Talisker 10 (Just peaty enough without being overwhelming)
Glenmorangie 10 (my first step away from Jack Daniels/Famous Grouse)
Glenlivet Nadurra 16 yo (the quality in this has diminished significantly since they stopped with the age statement, in my opinion - whenever I see an aged bottle, I buy it).