The definitive Whisky Bible 2015 was released last month to a virtual cue of hardcore whisky’philes and early bird Christmas shoppers. Much anticipated with each annual publication is author Jim Murray’s selection of the world’s best whiskies covering American, Scotch, Irish, European, Asian and the Southern Hemisphere. And in a shock first from a selection of some 4’500 possibles, Scotch didn’t even make it into the top five.

Holding number one spot is the Japanese with Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013, a remarkable dram awarded a remarkable score of 97.5/100. The runner up were strongly represented by the Americans with a Kentucky Straight Bourbon William Larue Weller 2013 and Sazerac Rye 18yo 2013 respectively.

In its twelve years of publication to date, this is the first time The Whisky Bible has not placed a single Scotch whisky anywhere in the top five. A message which Jim Murray states is a “wake up call” for Scotch whisky distillers.

Defined as “near indescribable genius” and “a single malt which no Scotch can at the moment get anywhere near”, Suntory’s Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 is a marriage of single malts aged in ex Oloroso sherry casks between 12 to 15 years delivering a “light, teasing spice”.

As Japans largest and oldest operating distillery (est. 1923), Yamazaki has a long and established pedigree of producing high quality Scotch style whiskies from which the world is only just starting to take notice…watch this space.

Other winners by category as follows;

SCOTCH

  • Best Scotch:
    • Scotch Whisky of the Year: The Last Drop 1965
    • Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks): Highland Park Loki
    • Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask): The Last Drop Glen Garioch 47yo
    • Scotch Blend of the Year: The Last Drop 1965
    • Scotch Grain of the Year: Sovereign Port Dundas 1978
    • Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year: Compass Box The Peat Monster 10th Anniversary
  • Single Malt Scotch:
    • No Age Statement (Multiple Casks): AnCnoc Rutter
    • No Age Statement (Runner Up): Ardbeg Supernova
    • 10 Years & Under (Multiple Casks): Glen Grant 10yo
    • 11-15 Years (Multiple Casks): Highland Park Loki
    • 16-21 Years (Multiple Casks): Glenmorangie 1993 Ealanta
    • 22-27 Years (Multiple Casks): Glenturret 1986 Famous Grouse Commonwealth Games
    • 28-34 Years (Multiple Casks): Balblair 1983 1st Release
    • 35-40 Years (Multiple Casks): Old Pulteney 40yo
    • 41 Years & Over (Multiple Casks): Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 50yo
  • Single Cask
    • 10 Years & Under (Single Cask): Alexander Weine & Destillate Port Charlotte 10yo
    • 11-15 Years (Single Cask): Balvenie 12yo Single Barrel First Fill
    • 16-21 Years (Single Cask): First Editions Clynelish 1996 17yo
    • 22-27 Years (Single Cask): Gordon & MacPhail Linkwood 1988
    • 28-34 Years (Single Cask): Old Malt Cask Caol Ila 1984 29yo
    • 35-40 Years (Single Cask): BenRiach 1977 37yo Dark Rum Finish #1891
    • 41 Years & Over (Single Cask): Last Drop Glen Garioch 47 Year Old
  • Blended Scotch:
    • No Age Statement (Standard): Ballantine’s Finest
    • No Age Statement (Premium): Ballantine’s Limited Release no. J13295
    • 5-12 Years: Johnnie Walker Black Label 12yo
    • 13-18 Years: Ballantine’s 17yo
    • 19-25 Years: Royal Salute 21yo
    • 26-50 Years: The Last Drop 1965

IRISH WHISKEY

  • Best Irish:
    • Irish Whiskey of the Year: Redbreast 21yo
    • Irish Pot Still Whiskey of the Year: Redbreast 21yo
    • Irish Single Malt of the Year: Bushmills 21yo
    • Irish Blend of the Year: Jameson

AMERICAN WHISKEY

  • Best American:
    • Bourbon of the Year: William Larue Weller 2013
    • Rye of the Year: Sazerac Rye 18yo 2013
    • US Micro Whisky of the Year: Arkansas Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon Whiskey #190
    • US Micro Whisky of the Year (Runner Up): Balcones Texas Straight Bourbon VII Bourbon
  • Bourbon:
    • No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels): William Larue Weller 2013
    • 9 Years & Under: Ridgemont Reserve 1792 8yo
    • 10-17 Years (Multiple Barrels): Four Roses Small Batch 2013 125th Anniversary
    • 18 Years & Over (Multiple Barrels): Elijah Craig 21yo Single Barrel
    • No Age Statement (Single Barrel): Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon 1919-2013
    • 10-17 Years (Single Barrel): Four Roses 2013 Limited Edition Single Barrel #3-4P
  • Rye:
    • No Age Statement: Thomas Handy Sazerac Rye 2013
    • 11 Years & Over: Sazerac Rye 18yo 2013

CANADIAN WHISKY

  • Canadian Whisky of the Year: Masterson’s 10 Year Old Straight Rye

JAPANESE WHISKY

  • Japanese Whisky of the Year: Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013

EUROPEAN WHISKY

  • European Whisky of the Year (Multiple): English Whisky Co. Chapter 14 Unpeated
  • European Whisky of the Year (Single): Belgian Owl Single Malt ‘64 Months’

WORLD WHISKIES

  • Asian Whisky of the Year: Kavalan Single Malt Whisky
  • Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year: New Zealand Willowbank 1988 25yo

For an exclusive selection of these whiskies, visit the dedicated Whisky Bible Award Winners Page at The Whisky Exchange.

To pick up your own copy of The Whisky Bible 2015 – Click Here

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