Whisky Bible 2015 Snubs Scotch

By Richard Thomas

Many in the United Kingdom are crying foul over the forthcoming 2015 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, arguably the premier guide to international whiskeys, because for the first time not a single Scotch whisky has entered the book’s Top 5.

Murray named the Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 the world’s best whisky in his new rankings, with a 97.5 score. This whisky from Japan’s oldest distillery was aged for 12 to 15 years in Oloroso sherry butts, and represents the first Japanese whisky to top the charts in 12-year history of Murray’s book.

Grabbing the second and third place slots were two American whiskeys from Buffalo Trace, the Antique Collection’s 2013 William Larue Weller and Sazerac 18 Year Old respectively.

Japanese whisky has been garnering more and more attention and popularity in recent years, so that a Japanese whisky topped Murray’s rankings is not only unsurprising, but might even be described as overdue. The prominence given to two Buffalo Trace whiskeys is also no surprise, as Murray has loved their products and two past Buffalo Antique Collection whiskeys occupied the No. 1 and 2 slots in Whisky Bible 2013.

Likewise, having not a single Scotch make it into the Top 5 shouldn’t surprise anyone, given Murray’s recent track record. Last winter Murray caused quite a stir in whiskey circles by declaring that American whiskeys were outdoing Scotch whiskies and criticizing the prevalence of sulfurized barrels in the industry, which he regards as inferior.