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JIM MURRAY’S WHISKY BIBLE 2017 This 2017 edition is dedicated with affection to the memory of Michael Steele and Harold Currie This edition first published 2016 by Dram Good Books Ltd 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 The ”Jim Murray’s” logo and the ”Whisky Bible” logo are trade marks of Jim Murray. Text, tasting notes & rankings, artwork, Jim Murray’s logo and the Whisky Bible logo copyright © Jim Murray 2016 Design copyright © Dram Good Books Ltd 2016 For information regarding using tasting notes from Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible contact: Dram Good Books Ltd, Unit 2, Barnstones Business Park, Litchborough, UK, NN12 8JJ Tel: 44 (0)117 317 9777. Or contact us via www.whiskybible.com This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the author’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it was published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on any subsequent purchaser. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner and the publishers. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN: 978-0-9932986-1-5 Printed in Belgium by Graphius Group Eekhoutdriesstraat 67, B-9041 Gent. Written by: Jim Murray Edited by: David Rankin and Peter Mayne Design: Rob-indesign, Jim Murray, Vincent Flint-Hil Maps: James Murray, Rob-indesign Production: Rob-indesign, Vincent Flint-Hill, Billy Jeffrey Chief Researcher: Vincent Flint-Hill Sample Research: Vincent Flint-Hill, Ally Telfer, Julia Nourney, Mick Secor Other Research: Emma Thomson Sales: Billy Jeffrey European Dictionary: Julie Nourney, Tom Wyss, Mariette Duhr-Merges, Stefan Baumgart, Erik Molenaar, Jürgen Vromans, Henric Molin and Kalle Valkonen. Author’s Note I have used the spelling “whiskey” or “whisky” depending on how the individual distillers prefer. All Scotch is “whisky”. So is Canadian. All Irish, these days, is “whiskey”, though that was not always the case. In Kentucky, bourbon and rye are spelt “whiskey”, with the exception of the produce of the early Times/Old Forester Distillery and Maker’s Mark which they bottle as “whisky”. In Tennessee, it is a 50-50 split: Dickel is “whisky”, while Daniel’s is “whiskey”. JIM MURRAY’S WHISKY BIBLE 2017 Contents Introduction . 6 How to Read The Bible . 7 How to Taste Whisky . 9 Immortal Drams . 10 Bible Thumping . 11 Whisky Tasting Club . 13 Jim Murray’s Whisky Award Winners 2017 . 14 The Whisky Bible Liquid Gold Awards . 16 Scottish Malts . 22 Aberfeldy . 24 Glencraig . 76 Lochside . 130 Aberlour . 25 Glendronach . 77 Longmorn . 130 Abhainn Dearg . 28 Glendullan . 79 The Macallan . 132 Ailsa Bay . 28 Glen Elgin . 79 Macduff . 135 Allt-A-Bhainne . 28 Glenesk . 80 Mannochmore . 136 Ardbeg . 29 Glenfarclas . 80 Millburn . 137 Ardmore . 32 Glenfiddich . 83 Miltonduff . 137 Auchentoshan . 34 Glen Garioch . 85 Mortlach . 138 Auchroisk . 36 Glenglassaugh . 87 Mosstowie . 140 Aultmore . 36 Glengoyne . 89 North Port . 140 Balblair . 37 Glen Grant . 91 Oban . 140 Balmenach . 39 Glengyle . 95 Pittyvaich . 140 The Balvenie . 39 Glen Keith . 95 Port Ellen . 140 Banff . 41 Glenkinchie . 96 Pulteney . 141 Ben Nevis . 41 The Glenlivet . 96 Rosebank . 143 BenRiach . 43 Glenlochy . 98 Royal Brackla . 144 Benrinnes . 45 Glenlossie . 99 Royal Lochnagar . 144 Benromach . 47 Glen Mhor . 99 St Magdalene . 144 Bladnoch . 49 Glenmorangie . 99 Scapa . 144 Blair Athol . 50 Glen Moray . 102 Speyburn . 145 Bowmore . 51 Glen Ord . 105 Speyside Distillery . 145 Braeval . 54 Glenrothes . 105 Springbank . 147 Brora . 55 Glen Scotia . 106 Strathisla . 149 Bruichladdich . 55 Glen Spey . 108 Strathmill . 150 Bunnahabhain . 59 Glentauchers . 108 Talisker . 150 Caol Ila . 61 Glenturret . 109 Tamdhu . 151 Caperdonich . 63 Glenugie . 110 Tamnavulin . 152 Cardhu . 63 Glenury Royal . 110 Teaninich . 153 Clynelish . 64 Highland Park . 110 Tobermory . 153 Convalmore . 65 Imperial . 113 Tomatin . 158 Cragganmore . 65 Inchgower . 113 Tomintoul . 162 Craigellachie . 66 Inverleven . 114 Tormore . 164 Dailuaine . 67 Isle of Arran . 115 Tullibardine . 165 Dallas Dhu . 68 Isle of Jura . 117 Wolfburn . 166 Dalmore . 68 Kilchoman . 119 Unspecified Singles Dalwhinnie . 70 Kinclaith . 120 Campbeltown . 167 Deanston . 71 Knockando . 120 Highland . 167 Dufftown . 72 Knockdhu . 120 Island . 167 Edradour . 72 Ladyburn . 122 Islay . 167 Fettercairn . 73 Lagavulin . 122 Lowland . 169 Glen Albyn . 74 Laphroaig . 123 Speyside . 169 Glenallachie . 75 Linkwood . 127 General . 171 Glenburgie . 75 Littlemill . 129 Vatted Malts . 173 Glencadam . 75 Loch Lomond . 129 Mystery Malts . 183 Scottish Grain . 184 Single Grain . 185 Garnheath . 187 North of Scotland . 193 Caledonian . 185 Girvan . 187 Port Dundas . 193 Cambus . 185 Invergordon . 189 Strathclyde . 194 Cameronbridge . 186 Loch Lomond . 190 Unspecified Grain . 195 Carsebridge . 186 Lochside . 191 Vatted Grain . 195 Dumbarton . 187 North British . 191 Scottish Blends . 196 Irish Whiskey . 220 Pure Pot Still . 221 Single Grain . 231 Single Malt . 224 Blends . 231 American Whiskey . 238 Bourbon Distilleries . 239 American Microdistilleries . 266 Bourbon Brands . 240 American/Kentucky Blends . 287 Tennessee Whiskey . 259 Distilled From Bourbon Mash. 287 Corn Whiskey . 260 Distilled From Malt Mash . 287 Single Malt Rye . 261 Distilled From Rye Mash. 288 Straight Rye . 261 Other American Whiskey . 288 Straight Wheat Whiskey . 266 Canadian Whisky . 290 Canadian Single Malt . 292 Canadian Blended Whisky . 293 Japanese Whisky . 302 Single Malts . 304 Sendai. 306 Chichibu . 304 Shinshu Mars . 306 Fuji Gotemba . 304 Shirakawa . 306 Hakushu . 304 White Oak Distillery . 306 Hanyu . 305 Yamazaki . 306 Karuizawa . 305 Yoichi . 307 Kirin . 305 Japanese Vatted Malts . 308 Komogatake . 305 Japanese Single Grain . 309 Miyagikyo . 305 Japanese Blends . 310 Nikka. 305 European Whisky . 312 Austria . 313 Luxembourg . 349 Belgium . 318 The Netherlands . 349 Czech Republic . 319 Slovakia . 350 Denmark . 320 Spain . 350 England . 324 Sweden . 350 Finland . 329 Switzerland . 353 France . 331 Wales . 360 Germany . 336 British Blends . 363 Italy . 348 European Blends . 363 Latvia . 349 European Dictionary . 364-365 Liechtenstein . 349 World Whiskies . 366 Argentina . 367 New Zealand . 378 Australia . 367 South Africa . 380 Brazil . 374 Taiwan . 381 Bhutan . 375 Uruguay . 382 India . 375 Miscellaneous . 382 Slàinte . 383 List of Maps Scotland . 22–23 Speyside Malts . 24 Ireland . 221 Kentucky & Tennessee . 238 Canada . 290-291 Japan . 302-303 Introduction Have you ever noticed the similarities between people and whisky? I don’t mean in the way that a person is like the dog they own which, apparently, is not an unusual phenomenon. No, I mean the way a whisky has a personality. One which changes over time as age and events sculpt its character. Doubtless you have met many people over the years who on first, brief introduction appear charming and thoroughly good company. But only on spending time with them do you realise that perhaps they are not what they seem, and they have a mean or niggardly streak to them; or that the slightly outgoing trait which first appeared attractive ends up as an annoyance. Or, conversely, you don’t like them at all on first meeting but, when you have taken time to discover what they are about, you then find them possessing hidden depths and even a certain charisma which keeps bringing you back for even more of their company. It is like that with people. It is like that with whisky. So, for Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2017, I am pleased to introduce you to no less than 1,241 new characters, the number of new whiskies I have tasted for this very latest edition. Some you will like on first meeting and continue to like; some you will dislike and no amount of getting to know you time will change your first impression. But there will be many here which, as they did to me, surprise and even delight. Surprise and delight is exactly what happened when I named a Canadian, Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye, World Whisky of the Year for 2016. And horrification. Probably in equal measure. Of course the brainless, know-nothing rent-a-quotes came out from under their stones claiming the award was ridiculous as Canadian is known to be inferior to Scotch or that I had taken back handers, or was seeking publicity or whatever the reason was. The one thing they could not accept, or even get their tiny minds around, was the possibility that the greatest Canadian could be more than a match for anything. Also that I had met someone – sorry, I mean a whisky – I had fallen completely in love with. It was love at first flight: the.