I helped select some bikes for my cousin's rental business and it was a case of selecting base specs and then shopping around, rather than selecting a brand.
For me, I would go with a hand made steel soft tail in 650b flavour, preferably Japanese.
If restricted to an MTB then a 29er, steel, rigid, Rohloff. Otherwise a Vanilla - any, really, they are that lovely. I imagine the delivery time puts them beyond my earthly limit!
Tricky one!
Whether to go for a modern version of something you know and love or go for something completely different?
Another Soulcraft or a Steelman?
(I'm assuming someone else is paying! Isn't that how these conundrums work?)