One of my favorite teachers is retiring after winter semester 2007, so my friends and I would like to go in on a bottle of Scotch for him as a retirement gift. I had jokingly asked if a beer per extra point on the final were suitable, and he promptly replied that he much preferred single-malt Scotch, so, here I be.

Anyone have any suggestions? I'm looking at a $50+ range.

It all depends on how prompt he replied.

Johnny Walker Blue Label.

Look for single malt.

Balvenie is good.

cant remember what else i drink.

i'll get back to you.

Glengoyne.

Get a proper bottle of Whisky from Scotland.

Nope. It's blended, not single-malt.

I've heard good things about Jura, from the Isle of Jura in Scotland. It seems like a pretty smooth Scotch, so it'll satisfy someone looking for Scotch whisky, but without being too heavy or peaty (Which apparently other Islay whiskies are known for), so it won't be difficult to please the palate.

[Annendum]
For clarification, Jura isn't an Islay, it's from an island near Islay.
And my knowledge of Scotch is pedestrian, at best. I don't really drink much of it, although I do like Drambuie, which is a cordial made of Scotch mixed with honey and herbs. You may want to look into that, but it sounds like you're going for fancier.