Customer Reviews

Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible 2004

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Jim Murray is, according to many whisky aficionados, the premier writer on whisky. He has visited virtually every distillery in existence, and has an unsurpassed knowledge and love of whisky.

His latest book is tall and narrow, the same size as Michael Jackson's Pocket Guide to Beer, so it can be carried along to stores when purchasing whisky. And this is Murray's intention: the book is written as a buying guide for the consumer. Unlike in his previous books, Murray gives numerical ratings to the more than 2000 whiskies he evaluates, a number from 0 to 100, broken down into numbers for nose, taste, finish and balance, each receiving up to 25 points. Although numerical ratings will help whisky drinkers and store owners, he knows that many in the industry may be unhappy with his ratings.

Murray intends his guide to become a yearly publication that will be supplemented and updated throughout the year on the web site www.whiskybible.com.

The book begins with introductory material, including a review of the whisky year, as well as a three-page diatribe about "The Evils of Colour Prejudice", meaning the adding of caramel coloring to whisky. Murray claims that colorization degrades the taste of whisky and in many of his reviews, even very positive ones, he claims that the addition of caramel has taken its toll on the whisky's quality.

The book's beginning also contains Murray's award winners for the year in 19 categories, with overall whisky of the year being George T. Stagg bourbon. He then lists, in four pages, all of the whiskies that received a score of 93-97. (One omission: Longmorn 15 year old, to which he gives a score of 93, is not on the list.) Only two whiskies receive a 97, George T. Stagg and Old Malt Cask Ardbeg 1975 Aged 25 years (bottled Oct 00), "without a shadow of a doubt ... the two best whiskies it has ever been my luck and privilege to taste in nearly 30 years". Along with many expensive and rare whiskies on this list are found widely available relatively inexpensive whiskies. Receiving 94, for example, along with Old Malt Cask Ardbeg 1975 Aged 24 years and Laphroaig 40 year old, one finds Glenmorangie 10 year old, Dalwhinnie 15 year old, and even the Canadian Seagrams VO, which I'd guess is most often used as a mixer.

Scotch whisky, including single malts, grain whisky and blends, accounts for about 70% of the book's contents, the remaining 30% being devoted to American, Japanese, Canadian, European and world whiskies. There was no room in this edition for Indian and other Asian whiskies, but Murray hopes to accommodate these in future editions. The book concludes with a Stop Press section evaluating late bottled and additional whiskies, a glossary, and advice on how to drink whisky.

As always, Murray's writing is personal and passionate, and the book makes for fascinating reading. His commentary is by turns lyrical, colorful, provocative, angry and funny (see his review of Littlemill Dunglas, to which he gives a rating of 17).

Jim Murray is a romantic about whisky whose writing draws one into his intense devotion to the drink. For someone beginning to explore the world of whisky, as well as for the whisky expert, this book is a must.

Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible 2004 is one of the most delightful whisky reads in existence. It is absolutely loaded with nuggets, ratings, tips and lore. Like Michael Jackson's excellent tome, Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible is very approachable, yet somehow even more engaging. (Maybe it's because Murray's writing is more casual and conversational.) Plus, the 2004 version is at least four years newer than the latest edition of Jackson's guide, so you will find more complete coverage of all the labels and varieties--making the ratings significantly more useful when you tote this book to the local liquor store. Although I disagree with some of Murray's ratings, you can't question his credentials.

If you love whisky, this is a MUST read.

A word on the book itself: my edition is from 2006 - this is updated every 2 years I believe, but I suspect only the really hard-core would need to buy every edition. It's long and narrow and has a flexible cover and would fit easily in the pocket as one peruses the shelves at one's local fine liquor purveyor; a warning to those with less-than-perfect eyesight though, the print is quite small. There's not a lot in the way of introductory material - a short rundown on the year in spirits, and very brief intros to the book's main sections - Scotland, Ireland, USA, Japan, and everywhere else. If you're looking for general information on the Water of Life, this is not the book to buy. If on the other hand you're looking for an enormously knowledgeable guide to all that's wonderful (and the little that's awful) in the world of this wonderful adult beverage, this might be the best starting point you could find.

Some might find Murray too kind a critic -- on his 100-point scale, almost none of the 3,000 or so whiskys rate less than 80, and the vast majority are 90+ -- but Murray is a hedonistic lover of the spirit in all its guises, not a pedantic finder of faults, and that's all to the good for those like me who are just beginning to find our ways in this distillation of humble grains. His ratings are highly descriptive, effusive, sometimes seeming overboard -- until I try the particular liquor in question, at which point I realize that he's typically on the money even at his most loquacious. I'm happy, personally, that he loves Bourbon and Rye as much as he does, rating them every bit the equal of Scotch, that in fact he is as unprejudiced a whisky writer as you'll find. My edition is from 2006; I will surely be buying updated editions as long as my thirst needs slaking....and I'll be updating this review after I finally crack my bottle of his #1 whisky, George T. Stagg.

Why would you buy this book? Why not just drink that old bottle of Jim Beam or Johnny Walker? Because you don't want to make the mistake of buying a bottle of blended Scotch for $500 with a rating of 77/100, like a family friend did. Cost or more aging does not necessarily equate to a higher rating or a higher complexity of taste, body, and finish.

This book is one of the most detailed and comprehensive guides to Whiskey/Whisky in the world. Covering Scotch (single malt and blends), and whiskey from every whiskey producing country such as the United States, Canada, Ireland, Japan, Australia, and Austria, Jim Murray rates spirits by Nose, Taste, Body, and Finish (0 to 25 with a composite of 0 to 100). I would not and have not wasted any of my time or money on purchasing whiskey, without referring to this book. From the rare 50 year old 6,000 British pound bottle of Royal Salute to the $18 dollar bottle of Bourbon, this book covers a vast majority of them.

Each year he bestows upon various distilleries the best of each class of whiskey (World Whisky of the Year, Scotch Single Malt of the Year, Best New Scotch Single Malt of the Year/Single cask, Bourbon of the year, Irish Whisky of the Year, etc).

In the front of the book there is a summary page that shows ratings with the subclassifications (for example, 97 Rating with subheadings of Scotch Single Malt, Bourbon, etc). It is helpful if you're about to go somewhere and try to find 'the best'.

His writing style is straightforward and a pleasure to read. Notes are descriptive and accurate, and drinks are rated from a scale of 0 to 100 (although, I have never seen anything higher than a 97). 0-50, he comments as "Nothing short of absolutely diabolical", whereas 98-100 is "Better than anything I've ever tasted". He also talks about the latest trends in the industry and each installment of the book rates more and more whiskey, each subsequent year.

Even though some of the more obscure barrels of bourbon are not in this guide (for example, Pappy van Winkle 18 year old), it's still a worthwhile investment.

Before you buy that $200 dollar of bourbon or that $1,500 bottle of Macallan, you need to read this book. It WILL save you time, aggravation and money. I am still searchin' for a good ol' bottle of George T. Stagg (97/100).

HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.