My copy of Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2014 arrived and ...

[Quaich1]

My signed copy of Jim's 2014 Whisky Bible arrived here in Ontario today. Just starting to go through it. Some of my favorite expressions aren't even listed in this edition. I do enjoy reading his comments about the whisky industry in general and digesting his flowery taste notes. I often do not agree with his numerical whisky ratings. For example , he rated The Devil's Cask far lower than I would have expected and his comments about the expression taken in full are rather negative. The Black Grouse Alpha which I feel is really outstanding, he rates at 72.5 and calls it "dreadfully sulphured". I think it is a wonderful flavorful dram and I don't get any sulphur on this one at all in spite of the fact that I am very sensitive to sulphur when it is present. The Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams Canadian Edition is not even in his book, nor is any other edition of this Glenfiddich expression for that matter. The Cask of Dreams is selling for triple or quadruple the original price in Germany because of all the interest and yet he does not even mention it. It is one of my favorite drams. Even the glorious Glenlivet XXV is left out. I still can't quite figure out how he makes the selection of whiskies to appear in each edition every year. In any event, the 2014 Whisky Bible is here and certainly is worth the read in spite of the above comments.
_________________
"Always carry a large flagon of whisky in case of snakebite and furthermore always carry a small snake."
W.C. Fields (1880-1946)

[Keith]

Many limited editions dont make it into the Whisky Bilble simply because Jim was probably never sent a sample. I recall the superb Glenfiddich Foundation Reserve which was a limited release for charity and wasnt available from any shops it was simply mentioned here on this forum by William and 500 bottles virtually sold out over night., members gave it rave reviews but it never made it into the whisky bible as Jim probably didnt receive a sample. The bottle cost £50 and was changing hands for £500 within days of its release and thanks again to William forum members were able to get hold of up to 3 bottles. The bottle even had an article in the Wall Street Journal and UK Financial Times along the lines of it being a better investment than gold and referring to it as liquid gold.

One thing i have noticed about Jim Murray is he has never really taken to Bowmore whisky so it is not a surprise he has given it only 87.5 but i have read other whisky critics reviews such as Dominc Roskrows and indeed Williams on the Bowmore Devils Casks and many have rated it very highly and having now tasted it myself it is an outstanding Bowmore.

It is always interesting to compare what the authorities in whisky such as Jim Murray thinks of a whisky which you have rated highly yourself, for me it is always worth picking up a copy of the Whisky Bible for all that iy costs.