It's all a matter of taste. You can get a good Single Malt for $50, so $200 isn't necessarily necessary. I like Macallan myself. Rule of thumb the higher the age, the higher the price. However, I prefer a Macallan 12 to a 14, I think the 14 is a little too oaky. This is where taste comes in, and it's tough to put a finger on it. Oban is a very good scotch, for a relatively low price. Glenfiddich is one of my favorites also...