There are a few different kinds of malt whisky, I'll make a recommendation for all I can think of at a reasonable price point ($50-$100). A good bar will have many of these. I have or have had all of them below.
Blend- (A blend of single malts and other grain spirits)-
Johnny Walker Black. It is a reference point. A bit of smoke, smooth and reliable. Blue is overrated and red is for stripping wax off combat boots. I also like Johnny Walker Swing, but it is not the easiest to find. I think it is better than Black, less smoke more complex. However, having said that, take a walk on the wild side and get Yamazaki's Hibiki 12 yo instead. Little to no peat smoke, but a superb Japanese blend. Sweet, clean, smooth and refined. Fruity, some sherry, sweet gentle spice, orange peel, so nice.
Blended malt (formerly known as vatted malt- a blend of single malts w/o additional grain spirit)-
Compass Box Spice Tree. Sweet, spicey, minerals, extra oakey from new barrel heads in the aging, really well blended and flavorful. Must try.
Blended grain-
Compass Box Hedonism. Who knew grain could be this good? Smooth as silk, sweet fruit, coconut, vanilla, ginger, honey. Creamy and complex.
Single malt, unpeated, bourbon barrel-
Balvenie 15 single barrel, the 12 will do if that's all they have, but don't get the 12 double wood. Sweet classic speyside. Vanilla oak classic bourbon barrel malt. I look for this one at bars to relax. Long finish. I think it is barrel strength as well.
Single malt, unpeated sherry cask-
Aberlour. Get whatever they have. It is lovely. Aberlour A'bunadh is a staple in my cabinet. Cask strength sherry bomb. It may be heresy, but I'd take it over macallan any day. If you get the A'Bunadh add a bit of water, it's close to 60% ABV. Sweet sherry, no smoke, rich, fruity spicey chocolates. Yum.
Single malt, lightly peated-
highland park 10. Honey heather and a balanced smoke. Lovely. The 18 is more refined but twice as much. Springbank 10 is even better, but may be harder to find. It has an interesting mineral note and may be too complex to appreciate without experience. But so worth it.
Single malt, heavily peated-
Ardbeg 10. Very dry and peated, high smoke content some sweetness, but full of coal and spice. If you don't like your whisky bone dry, get Lagavulin 16 instead, full on smoke and peat, but definitely a bit sweeter, may have some sherry casks to add the sweetness, I don't recall for sure. Definitely complex.
Single malt, "all in" heavily peated-
Laphroaig 10. It is the peatiest most medicinal malt out there. Smoke and Flavor for days. Smoke, peat, seaweed, salty ocean air, sweet malt, more peat, iodine, medicinal blast, long finish. For a little more you can probably get the 10yo cask strength and take it to the next level. It really is the most flavorful peated whisky out there. The 18 is great, but it dials the peat back a bit, and if you're going all in, just get the 10.
Irish -
Skip the blends and get single pot still- Redbreast 12. Fantastic Irish whisky. If you can find the cask strength, get that instead. Warm, sweet, spicy, rich, Sherry, vanilla, long finish. Always in my cabinet.
Comments welcome.