I love special batches and cask strength stuff, but it's usually outside my budget.
Japanese whiskeys are great - Nikka, Hibiki, Yamanazaki etc. are all solid options.
Like most people, I started out with Speysides and slowly got into Islays.
I don't really collect, but rather try to finish a bottle within 3-4 months and get something else. I'm on the low budget with stuff like Ben Riach, Glenmorangie, Laphroaig, Ardbeg, and Caol Ila.
Recently got into Bourbon as a nice summer option on ice.
The two bottles I have rn, nothing special really: