The total number of whiskey brands has long exceeded 5000, it is understandable that buyers are not able to try each one to determine the best for themselves. Whiskey ratings come to the rescue, which rank brands according to the main criteria: color, aroma, taste, overall quality and price. Jim Murray, the author of The Whiskey Bible, is considered the world’s most respected whiskey “evaluator”.
British writer and journalist Jim Murray was born on November 13, 1957. He is best known for his book The Jim Murray Whiskey Bible, released in 2004 and reprinted every year since then. The future critic began writing articles for a local newspaper while still at school, and at 16 he hosted his own TV show. In those days, the young journalist was more fond of sports than alcohol, and his reports were mainly about football matches.
In 1992, Jim left his career as a journalist to become the world’s first professional “whiskey writer”. He visited the first distillery in 1975 and it is believed that since then Murray has seen more whiskey productions than anyone else in the world. During his business trips to Scotland in the 1980s, he literally did not get out of the distilleries, spending all his free time and part of his working time there.
In 1994, the writer published Jim Murray’s Irish Whiskey Almanac, the first, but by no means the last publication on the subject of whiskey. Three years later, an expanded and supplemented edition (“Classic Irish Whiskey”) was published, in the next 2 years another 4 books were published on the topic of bourbon, Irish and Scotch whiskey.
Murray is famous not only for his fanatical love for “living water” and everything connected with it. He has built a reputation as a truly honest, unbiased and independent writer who does not promote brands for money or publish in advertising-dependent publications.
Whiskey Bible is Jim’s main project. This is an annual ranking of whiskeys, with Murray personally tasting each brand and scoring it on a 100-point scale, paying attention to four parameters: smell, taste, aftertaste and balance. According to one evaluation criterion, a drink can receive a maximum of 25 points. Each new edition contains about a thousand new brands, and in total more than 4500 brands are considered.
Jim Murray Ranking Leaders
In October 2017, the results of the ranking of the Whiskey Bible became known, which will be published in 2018. The winner was Colonel Eh Taylor Four Grain Bourbon. Jim himself describes this brand as follows: “nothing can compare with the striking beauty and amazingly delicate body and complexity of the bouquet of this drink. Time seems to have stopped in the tasting room. I immediately understood everything.
Results of previous years:
- 2017 – Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old;
- 2016 – Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye;
- 2015 – Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013;
- 2014 – Glenmorangie Artistic;
- 2013 – Thomas H Handy Sazerac, 128.6 proof;
- 2012 – Old Pulteney 21 year old;
- 2011 – Ballantine’s 17 years old;
- 2010 – Ardbeg Supernova;
- 2009 – Old Parr Superior (от MacDonald Greenlees Distillers);
- 2008 – Ardbeg 10 years old;
- 2007 – Brora 30 years old.
The book is divided into categories: Whiskey of the Year (3 places), Scotch, Single Malt Scotch, Blended Scotch, Irish Whiskey, American Whiskey, Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, Wheat Whiskey, Canadian Whiskey, Japanese Whiskey, European Whiskey, World Whiskey.
Criticism of Murray’s book
Jim’s critics slander that the journalist is only famous for two things:
- He drinks whiskey;
- Then he writes about it.
No one denies that Murray is certainly an expert in his field and probably knows more about whiskey than anyone else. However, this does not change the fact that a rating based on the tastes and preferences of one person cannot be trusted. Science has proven that each person tastes differently, and what seems sweet to one may be bitter to another.
Also, while Jim Murray considers bourbon, scotch and other types of whiskey in different categories, he still comes up with one overall “winner”. Meanwhile, each type of whiskey has its own characteristics, for example, Scotch is often “peaty”, and if the taster does not like this taste, then even the best of the best brand will seem like a liqueur on a burnt log.
And finally, the main reason not to trust the Bible is that Jim wants his book to be sold every year, therefore, he cannot leave the rating unchanged, even if nothing has really changed globally. Critics believe that sometimes Murray deliberately arranges provocations: he declares a Japanese brand or a rye-based drink to be the best whiskey. This causes a stir in the press, Bill gets a lot of attention – and a lot of new buyers.
Other whiskey ratings
- The World Whiskeys Awards are the most prestigious whiskey rankings based on a jury.
- Whiskey Advocate Buying Guide’s is an expert rating based on the ratings of several experts. All brands are evaluated on a 100-point scale. The rating takes into account all types of whiskey.
- Modern Thirst. Internet rating of whiskey and bourbon, drinks are rated on a 100-point scale.
- L.A. Whisk(e)y Society. The rating is based on the school’s grading system, ranging from A+ (excellent) to F (disgusting, to be avoided at all costs).