This seems to be equivalent of the 'Meet the Athlete' segments in the Olympics, but knowing the writers background is obviously helpful, so here goes... I'm Louis, 43 and married, with 3 school aged sons.
My SMS journey began at the end of 1995, when a co-worker made me aware that there was a whole lot of single malt life beyond Glens Livet and Fiddich. His first recommnedation was the Bowmore 12, and then I stumbled across the Plowed page (www.single-malt.com), where I learned about the Highland Park 12. I managed to keep things fairly reasonable unti 1988, picking up a bottle a month or so. But then I read the very interesting notes on the D&M site (www.dandm.com), and the rest was history. I met up with Johannes after he announced the original Malt Madness page on the Plowed page. After corresponding for a while, I suddenly found myself to be a 'foreign correspondent' on Malt Madness. My two Holy Grails of SMS are Springbank and Ardbeg, which should be readily apparent after reading any few of my MM contributions.

As far as my place in the SMS world, I am comfortable being slotted between the gurus and advanced novices. While I have not hesitated to pick up some expensive bottles, the general economic situation (not to mention the fact that childeren cost more as they get older) has pushed my price range down a bit. Not to worry though. There are plenty of fine bottles out there at around $80 or so, especially keeping an eye out for sales and/or exceptional bargains. And by dollar cost averaging these bottles with more affordable fare, my overall enjoyment factor hasn't suffered a bit.

Two more points, which will help in understanding my compositions. You will notice the absence of the traditional laundry list of tasting notes in the Color, Nose, Body, Taste, and Finish format in my contributions. There are plenty of notes out there already, so I am not really adding anything to the world my publishing my own. But more important, these notes only provide a partial description of the whisky at hand. My goal instead, is to provide the 'big picture' description. If you look at the Buyers Guide on the malt Advocate site (www.maltadvocate.com), I am going for  the same thing as John Hansell's note in italics. I'll elaborate on this point in the future,

And finally, I seem to be deeply allergic to chill filtered whisky of any type. So my collection is reaching the point where it is made up of mostly indelendent bottlings, with only a few carefully chosed distillery offerings (the exceptions being distilleries such as Ardbeg and Bruichladdich who bottle at 46% ABV to avoid having to chill filter).

Malt Maniacs #0  -  prE-pistles 1997-1999
Malt Maniacs #0  -  prE-pistles 1999-2001
E-pistle #01/07  -  Top 3 Malts
E-pistle #01/10  -  My Top 10 Explained
E-pistle #02/08  -  Pro's & Con's of Old Age
E-pistle #03/06  -  Private Pleasures
E-pistle #03/09  -  Seasonal Malts
E-pistle #04/07  -  The Magic Price Point
E-pistle #05/02  -  New York Whisk(e)yfest 2002 Treasures
E-pistle #05/05  -  Compass Box Whisky
E-pistle #05/10  -  A Little Fun With Blends
E-pistle #06/03  -  An Evening With John Hansel
E-pistle #08/08  -  An Interview with John Glaser
E-pistle #09/05  -  2003 Wrap Up
E-pistle #10/06  -  Enjoying Whisky (Without Going Broke Or Insane) - Part 1
E-pistle #11/20  -  Whiskyfest New York 2004
E-pistle #12/13  -  2004 Wrap-Up
E-pistle #14/15  -  Winter Peat Monster Bash
E-pistle #16/04  -  Spirits in Los Angeles
E-pistle #16/08  -  The Trouble with Harry
 

01 - Old Springbank (25yo to low thirties, it doesn't get any better than this)
02 - Old Ardbeg (1972 thru 1975, Old Malt Cask bottlings are your best bet for now)
03 - Older Glenfarclas 20yo to 30yo (ABV= 46%)
04 - Longrow 25yo 1974 (46%, OB)
05 - Brora 28yo 1971 (50%, Douglas Laing OMC)
06 - Younger Springbank (The new distillery 10 and 15 years old bottlings.
07 - Lagavulin 16yo (43%, OB)
08 - Highland Park 18yo (43% OB)
09 - Bowmore 15yo 'Mariner' (43%, OB)
10 - Glenmorangie NAS Cellar 13 (43%, OB, or Glenmorangie Traditional (57.2%, OB, not chill filtered)

On 01/01/2006 Louis' 'Malt-O-Meter' said: almost 400 single malts sampled and scored.

888 Aberlour NAS 'A'bunadh' (59.6%, OB, no batch #, 1998)
85 Aberlour NAS 'A'bunadh' Batch #6 (59.9%, OB, 1999)
92 Ardbeg 1975/1990 (40%, G&M Connoisseur's Choice)
93 Ardbeg 1974/1995 (40%, G&M Connoisseur's Choice)
91 Ardbeg 1978/1997 (43%, OB)
98 Ardbeg 1974 "Provenance" (55.6%, OB, Bottled 18/11/97, Europe)
91 Ardbeg 1978/1998 (43%, OB)
84 Ardbeg 8yo 1991/1999 (43%, Signatory, C#611-615)
97 Ardbeg 27yo 1972/2000 (50%, DL OMC, Sherry cask, 238 b.)
96 Ardbeg 29yo 1972/2001 'Ardbeggedon' (48.4%, DL for PLOWED, 227 Btl.)
98 Ardbeg NAS Committee (55.3%, OB, vatting, bottled 2002)
92 Ardbeg Uigeadail new bottling (54.2%, OB, bottled 2004)
85 Ardbeg 30yo 1963/XXXX (40%, G&M)
94 Ardbeg 20yo 1975/XXXX (50.9%, Signatory)
88 Ardbeg 30yo 'Very Old' (40%, OB, <2000)
85 Ardbeg 8yo 1990/XXXX (43%, Signatory)
92 Ardbeg 17yo (40%, OB, 1999)
90 Ardbeg 17yo (43%, OB, 1999)
89 Ardbeg 9yo 1991/XXXX (53.3%, D&M Club)
90 Ardbeg 10yo (46%, OB, circa 2000)
92 Ardbeg 1977 (46%, OB, 2001)
82 Ardmore 10yo 1992/2003 (46%, Signatory, Cask #1364, 310 b.)
79 Arran NAS (43%, OB, +/- 3yo, <2000)
82 Aultmore 8yo 1989/XXXX (60.5%, Adelphi)
85 Balmenach 18yo 1979/1997 (60.2%, Scott's Sel)
82 Balvenie 15yo 1980/1996 'SB' (50.4%, OB)
86 Balvenie 21yo 'Port Wood' (40%, OB, Bottled 1997, 1st Edition)
80 Balvenie 10yo 'Founder's Reserve' (40%, OB, +/- 2000)
80 Balvenie 10yo 'Founder's Reserve' (43%, OB, +/- 2000)
81 Balvenie 12yo 'Doublewood' (43%, OB, +/- 2000)
83 Balvenie 17yo 'Islay Cask' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2003)
82 Ben Nevis 10yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
86 Benrinnes 18yo (55.3%, Cadenhead, Bottled late 80's)
82 Benrinnes 17yo 1979/XXXX (64.5%, Adelphi)
83 Bladnoch 16yo 1980/XXXX (43%, Signatory)
83 Bladnoch 11yo 1991/XXXX (46%, Signatory)
88 Bowmore 1989/2000 (46%, MMcD, bourbon cask ref MM3133)
92 Bowmore 17yo 1983/2000 (50%, OMC)
84 Bowmore 17yo (43%, OB, Bottled 1990's)
86 Bowmore NAS 'Darkest' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1999)
79 Bowmore NAS 'Cask Strength' (56%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
83 Bowmore 12yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
85 Bowmore 15yo Mariner (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
89 Bowmore 16yo 1984/XXXX (59.5%, Cadenhead)
93 Bowmore 30yo 'Sea Dragon' (43%, OB)
84 Bowmore 12yo 1989 (50%, Lombard, Jewels)
93 Brora 18yo 1981/2000 (50%, DL OMC, sherry)
96 Brora 29yo 1971/2000 (50%, DL OMC, 274 bt)
88 Brora 30yo 1972/2003 'Broraggeddon' (50.8.%, DL for Plowed, 201 btles.)
93 Brora 18yo 1981/XXXX (50%, DL OMC, bourbon)
93 Brora 19yo 1981/XXXX (50%, DL OMC)
83 Bruichladdich 11yo 1986/1998 (46%, Murray McDavid, MM2083)
81 Bruichladdich 1993/2000 Statement (43%, Black)
89 Bruichladdich 1984/2002 (46%, OB)
97 Bruichladdich 1970/2002 'vintage' (44.2%, OB)
84 Bruichladdich 21yo (43%, OB, Invergordon)
85 Bruichladdich 12yo 1986/XXXX (55.3%, Scott Sel)
82 Bruichladdich 15yo (43%, OB, Old, Bottled +/- 1999)
83 Bruichladdich 10yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2001)
85 Bruichladdich 15yo (46%, OB, New, Bottled +/- 2001)
79 Bunnahabhain 12yo (40%, OB, Bottled mid 1990's)
80 Bunnahabhain 20yo 1979/XXXX (46%, Murray McDavid)
80 Bunnahabhain 12yo (43%, OB, >1999)
88 Caol Ila 19yo 1976 (56.7%, Signatory)
84 Caol Ila 9yo 1989/XXXX (43%, Signatory)
83 Caol Ila 14yo 1990 (56.2%, Signatory, 'Binny's Cask')
86 Caol Ila 18yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2004)
76 Cardhu 12yo (43%, OB)
78 Cardhu 12yo (40%, OB, <2000)
84 Clynelish 12yo 1984/1996 (61%, Glenhaven)
81 Cragganmore 12yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 1998)
82 Cragganmore 12yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1998)
76 Craigellachie 15yo 1982/XXXX (62.7%, Scott's Sel)
82 Dallas Dhu 17yo 1978/1996 (43%, Coopers Choice)
85 Dalmore 23yo 1971/1995 (58.3%, Ghvn)
85 Dalmore 30yo (45%, Stillman's Dram)
78 Dalmore 12yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
81 Dalmore 21yo (43%, OB)
81 Dalwhinnie 15yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1995)
68 Deanston 12yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
79 Edradour 10yo (40%, OB, Pernod Ricard, Bottled +/- 1998)
81 Glencadam 11yo 1980/1992 (61.2%, Cadenhead)
81 Glen Elgin 12yo (43%, OB, bottled 2003)
96 Glenfarclas 35yo 1959/1994 (52.6%, Whyte & Whyte)
96 Glenfarclas 1971/2000 (53,1%, OB, Christmas Ed., Cask 5959 & 5960, 543 b.)
90 Glenfarclas 17yo 1977 (53.2%, Glenhaven, Bottled +/- 1995)
87 Glenfarclas 21yo (43%, Dram Select)
88 Glenfarclas 21yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1999)
96 Glenfarclas 34yo 1965 (61.2%, The Bottlers)
81 Glenfarclas NAS '105' (60%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
80 Glenfarclas 12yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
82 Glenfarclas 15yo (46%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
92 Glenfarclas 22yo 1979 Family Reserve (46%, OB)
95 Glenfarclas 32yo 1968 (43%, OB)
76 Glenfiddich 12yo Special Reserve (40%, OB, , Bottled +/- 2000)
81 Glenfiddich 15yo Solera Reserve (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
80 Glenfiddich 12yo Special Reserve (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2003)
82 Glen Garioch 15yo (43%, OB, <2001)
77 Glen Garioch 8yo (43%, OB)
79 Glenkinchie 10yo (43%, OB, Bottled 1990's)
90 Glenlivet 22yo 1973 (56%, Signatory, circa 1995)
79 Glenlivet 12yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 1998)
86 Glenlivet 18yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1998)
82 Glenlivet 12yo French Oak Finish (40%, OB, 2001)
80 Glenlivet 12yo American Oak Finish (40%, OB, duty free only)
80 Glenlivet 15yo French Oak (43%, OB)
82 Glenmorangie NAS 'Port Wood Finish' (43%, OB, +/- 1999)
80 Glenmorangie 10yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
87 Glenmorangie 18yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
81 Glenmorangie 10yo 'Cellar 13' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2001)
83 Glenmorangie 10yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2002)
83 Glenmorangie 10yo 100 Proof 'Traditional' (57.2%, OB, bulky bottle, Bottled +/- 2002)
85 Glenrothes 16yo 1982/1998 (43%, OB)
86 Glenrothes 1989/2000 (43%, OB)
86 Glenrothes 1987/2000 (43%, OB)
83 Glenrothes 27yo 1973/2000 (51%, Scott's Sel)
82 Glenrothes 1992/2004 (43%, OB)
82 Glenrothes 12yo 1984/XXXX (56.8%, Adelphi)
82 Glen Scotia 14yo (40%, OB, Bottled +/- 2002)
81 Highland Park 10yo 1984/1995 (59.8%, Glenhaven)
86 Highland Park 20yo 1975/XXXX (54.3%, Signatory)
87 Highland Park 21yo 1975/XXXX (60%, Glenhaven)
85 Highland Park 12yo (43%, OB, 1998)
87 Highland Park 18yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
89 Highland Park 22yo 1977 (43%, OB, circa 2000)
81 Highland Park 11yo 1990/XXXX (43%, Blackadder)
84 Highland Park 13yo 1990 (40%, Prime Malt)
83 Knockando 15yo 1979/1994 (43%, OB)
80 Knockando 12yo 1989 (OB, 43%)
93 Lagavulin 1979 Distillers Edition  (43%, OB, 1997)
93 Lagavulin 16yo 'White Horse' (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1999)
93 Laphroaig 12yo 1984/1997 (59.8%, Cadenhead)
93 Laphroaig 13yo 1984/1997 (59.8%, Cadenhead)
88 Laphroaig 9yo 1987/XXXX (46%, Murray McDavid)
87 Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength (57,3%, OB, Green stripe)
83 Laphroaig 10yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 2000)
89 Laphroaig 12yo 1988 (45%, Blackadder)
85 Laphroaig 15yo (43%, OB, <2001)
85 Laphroaig 14yo 1988 (46%, Signatory UCF, cask #3595, 679 b.)
85 Lochside 1981/2000 (46%, MMcD, refill sherry, cask ref MM9636)
95 Longmorn-Glenlivet 30yo 1970/2000 (57.1%, Scott's Sel.)
81 Longmorn 12yo 1981 (43%, W&W)
96 Longmorn 29yo 1971/XXXX (52.3%, Scott's Sel)
92 Longmorn 32yo 1968 (61.4%, Scott's Selection)
90 Macallan 18yo 1978/1996 (43%, OB)
88 Macallan 18yo 1981/1999 (43%, OB)
87 Macallan 16yo 1978/XXXX (56.5%, Glenhaven, plain oak)
85 Macallan 12yo (43%, OB, Bottled +/- 1999)
85 Macallan 15yo 1983 (43%, OB, circa 1999)
95 Macallan-Glenlivet 26yo 1973 (50.2%, Scott's Sel., plain oak cask)
85 Macallan 12yo (54.9%, Adelphi)
82 Macallan 12yo 1988/XXXX (43%, Signatory)
88 Macallan 21yo 1975/XXXX (46%, Murray McDavid)
86 Macallan NAS Cask Str. (USA) (58.6%, OB, Bottled +/- 2002)
82 Macallan 12yo 1991 'Elegancia' (40%, OB)
85 Millburn 18yo 1977/1996 (43%, Coopers Choice)
86 Mortlach 10yo 1988 (59.5%, Blackadder)
93 Mortlach 24yo 1975/XXXX (54.9%, Scott's Selection)
55 North Port-Brechin 19yo 1979/XXXX (61%, Rare Malts)
78 Oban 14yo (43%, OB, , Bottled +/- 1999)
77 Old Fettercairn 10yo (40%, OB, Bottled 1990's)
79 Old Pulteney 12yo (43%, OB, >2000)
86 Port Ellen 13yo 1982 (43%, Hart Bros)
88 Port Ellen 22yo 1975 (43%, Hart Bros)
92 Port Ellen 22yo 1976 (57%, Scott's Sel.)
83 Rosebank 13yo 1989/2002 (59.1%, MacKillops Choice, cask 908)
82 Rosebank 9yo 1989/XXXX (43%, Signatory)
89 Linlithgow 18yo 1982/2000 (50%, DL Old Malt Cask)
93 Linlithgow 25yo 1974/XXXX (57.5%, Scott)
81 Scapa 25yo 1974/2000 (50%, DL OMC, 240 Bottles)
81 Scapa 12yo (40%, OB, Bottled Late 1990's)
81 Scapa 9yo 1991/XXXX (43%, D&M Club)
78 Speyburn 10yo (43%, OB, Bottled 1990's)
79 Speyside 12yo (43%, OB)
85 Springbank 8yo 1985/1994 (61.1%, Cadenhead)
94 Springbank 32yo 1967/1999 (45.8%, Murray McDavid, PLOWED)
94 Springbank 12yo "100 Double Dark" (50%, OB, US version, circa 1995)
94 Springbank 12yo "100 Single Dark" (50%, OB, US version, circa 1995)
90 Springbank 12yo (46%, OB, red thistle, circa 1995)
94 Springbank 12yo (46%, OB, green thistle)
87 Springbank 9yo 1988/XXXX (46%, Murray McDavid)
98 Springbank 32yo 1967/XXXX (44.6%, OB, Chairman's stock)
85 Springbank 10yo (46%, OB, >1999)
95 Springbank 21yo (46%, OB, around 2000 or just before)
88 Springbank 40yo Millenium Edition (46%, OB, circa 2000)
90 "Springbank 12yo 1990 Sherrywood (54.2%, OB Sherry casks)
90 Springbank 15yo New (46%, OB, circa 2002)
87 Springbank 10yo (46%, OB, circa 2003)
90 Springbank 12yo '175th anniversary' (46%, OB, 12 000 bottles)
90 Springbank 10yo '100 proof' (50%, OB, US version)
92 Longrow 25yo 1974/1999 (46%, OB, blue box)
90 Longrow 10yo 1991/2001 'Bourbonwood' (46%, OB)
90 Longrow 10yo 1991/2001 'Sherrywood' (46%, OB)
79 Strathisla 12yo (43%, OB, Bottled Late 1990's)
89 Talisker 19yo 1980/2000 'Tactical'  (50%, Old Malt Cask, 348 b.)
92 Talisker 20yo 1980/2000 (50%, DL Old Malt Cask 'Tactical', 359 b.)
84 Talisker 20yo 1982/2002 (50%, OMC, Tactical, Wine & Liquor Depot Release)
89 Talisker 10yo (45.8%, OB, circa 1998)
88 Talisker 21yo 1979/XXXX (48.8%, Caledonian Selection, c#5939)
79 Tamdhu 12yo (40%, OB)
79 Tobermory 10yo (43%, OB)
80 Ledaig 15yo (43%, OB)
78 Tomatin 10yo (40%, OB, <2001)
80 Tomatin 12yo (43%, OB)
82 Tomintoul 14yo (43%, OB)
81 Tomintoul 16yo (40%, OB, circa 2003)
79 Vintage Islay 5yo  (43%, Bastard malt, Lagavulin?)
90 Compass Box Monster (54.9%, 'OB', vatting, US, for Park Avenue Liquor 2003)
83 Yamazaki 12yo (43% OB, Japan, Suntory, pure malt)