It’s October again, and time for the yearly release of JM’s (in)famous whisky bible. While very controversial (and not liked by a lot of whisky geek and lovers) It can not be ignored since it’s one of the best selling whisky books yearly, and maybe the most expansive reference books dealing with whisky. A few year’s ago I bought the books but as time goes by I find JM’s selections sometime a bit odd, and not in sync with my individual taste, so I prefer not to use this book as a guide or reference, but it’s me, and I know people who swear by it.
Ok, after last year’s Old Pulteney 21 winning the #1 World whisky, this year it seems Jim chose another controversial choice for #1, #2 whiskies, (or rather Whiskeys). World whisky of this year is the lovely Thomas H Handy Sazerac 2011, 128.6 proof . I really liked this whisky when tasted it, But is this the BEST whisky out there? among all scotch, Irish, American and world whiskies? really?
As for #2, William Larue Weller – It was also a favourite of mine when talking American Whiskey, and I rated it even higher back then (again 2010 release) at 95/100
I guess selling whisky books when you have a controversial selection as #1 is easier, isn’t it Jim? That said, I still regard this one as an excellent whisky. no doubt. If you remember I tasted the 2010 version of it (part of the bottle share by Sjoerd) and gave it a 90/100 mark, and loved it. But world best whisky? You decide.
The rest of the bunch are:
2013 World Whisky of the Year
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye (128.6 proof)
Second Finest Whisky in the World
William Larue Weller (133.5 proof)
Third Finest World Whisky in the World
Ballantine’s 17 Years Old
SCOTCH
Scotch Whisky of the Year
Ballantine’s 17 Years Old
Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks)
Ardbeg Day
Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask)
Balblair 1965
Best Scotch New Brand
Dewar House Experimental Age 17 Years
Scotch Blend of the Year
Ballantine’s 17 Years Old
Scotch Grain of the Year
SMWS G5.3 Aged 18 Years (Invergordon)
Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year
The Last Vatted Malt
Single Malt Scotch
No Age Statement (Multiple Casks)
Ardbeg Day
No Age Statement (Runner Up)
Aberlour a’bunadh Batch No. 33
10 Years & Under (Multiple Casks)
Glen Grant Aged 10 Years
10 Years & Under (Single Cask)
SWMS 33.116 Aged 8 Years (Ardbeg)
11-15 Years (Multiple Casks)
Lagavulin 12 Years Old Special Release
11-15 Years (Single Cask)
Berry’s Own Selection Macduff 2000
16-21 Years (Multiple Casks)
Old Pulteney Aged 17 Years
16-21 Years (Single Cask)
Old Masters Strathmill 21 Years Old
22-27 Years (Multiple Casks)
Highland Park Aged 25 Years
22-27 Years (Single Cask)
Macallan Masters Of Photography 1989
28-34 Years (Multiple Casks)
Benromach 30 Years Old
28-34 Years (Single Cask)
The Whisky Agency Caol Ila 33 Years Old
35-40 Years (Multiple Casks)
The Balvenie Aged 40 Years Batch 2
35-40 Years (Single Cask)
Berry’s Own Selection Glen Grant 1974
41 Years & Over (Multiple Casks)
Highland Park 50 Years Old
41 Years & Over (Single Cask)
Balblair 1965
Blended Scotch
No Age Statement (Standard)
Ballantine’s Finest
No Age Statement (Premium)
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Casks Edition
5-12 Years
Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Years Old
13-18 Years
Ballantine’s 17 Years Old
19 – 25 Years
Teacher’s Aged 25 Years
26 – 50 Years
The Last Drop 50 Years Old
IRISH WHISKEY
Irish Whiskey of the Year
Redbreast Aged 12 Years Cask Strength
Irish Pot Still Whiskey of the Year
Redbreast Aged 12 Years Cask Strength
Irish Single Malt of the Year
Bushmills Aged 21 Years
Irish Blend of the Year
Jameson
Irish Single Cask of the Year
The Tyrconnell Single Cask 11 Year Old
AMERICAN WHISKEY
Bourbon of the Year
William Larue Weller (133.5 proof)
Rye of the Year
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac (128.6 proof)
US Micro Whisky of the Year
Balcones Brimstone
US Micro Whisky of the Year (Runner Up)
Woodstone Microspirit 5 Grain No. 3
Bourbon
No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels)
William Larue Weller (133.5 proof)
No Age Statement (Single Barrel)
Four Roses 16 Years Old Single Barrel 78-3B
9 Years & Under
Ridgemont Reserve 1792 Aged 8 Years
10-17 Years (Multiple Barrels)
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2011 Barrel Strength
10-17 Years (Single Barrel)
Willett Family Estate Bottled 14 Years Old
18 Years & Over (Multiple Barrels)
Evan Williams 23 Years Old
Rye No Age Statement
Thomas Handy Sazerac (128.6 proof)
11 Years & Over
Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye 18 Years Old
CANADIAN WHISKY
Canadian Whisky of the Year
Masterson’s 10 Year Old Straight Rye
JAPANESE WHISKY
Japanese Whisky of the Year
Hanyu Final Vintage 2000
EUROPEAN WHISKY
European Whisky of the Year (Multiple)
Penderyn Portwood Swansea City Special
European Whisky of the Year (Single)
Hicks & Healey Cornish Whiskey 2004
WORLD WHISKIES
Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year
Sullivans Cove Single Cask HH0509
His tastes rarely match mine. I still respect him as a writer though, even if he is out there with his choices.
agreed, he’s a talented writer and I respect him for that, it’s only his rating system and choices i find bizarre. same here, his taste is not in sync with mine, but who am i to say anything? I am a “mere” blogger. 😉
I don’t really like Murray, a bit unprepossessing person to me. I prefer the ratings or good old Ralfy Mtchell. 🙂
Those choices are all over the map. I 100% disagree with the Ballantine’s 17 (perfectly decent as it is). But there are some incredible whiskies on that list. Any such list is bound to be a bit arbitrary. Anyway. The bigger issue, in my opinion, is score inflation and the possibility of that inflation’s use by marketers having something to do with the popularity of the books.
yes josh im with u