November 22, 2015

  • Jim Murray has tasted over 4,500 whiskies

    How do I get a job like that?

    This year a Canadian whiskey was awarded the title Best in the World in Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible (Link to article in cbc.ca).  The winning Whiskey is named Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye. "To say this is a masterpiece is barely doing it justice," Murray said in a news release, adding that it takes rye to "new heights of beauty and complexity."

    The Scots are not happy.

    whisky-large_RCNHR
    Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye
    Nose: Baked apple, Cereal, Light wood spices
    Palate: Custard creaminess, Candy sweetness, Oak spice, Vanilla
    Aftertaste: Smooth and creamy
    90% rye whisky, 90 Proof, Price: $27.95

    You can pay a lot more if you like.  There are aged scotches in Ireland and Japan priced at $2,000 or more.  But they're not the Best in the World.

    Here are the five best in 2016 according to Murray:

    1. ​Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye (Canada) - $27.95 a bottle
    2. Pikesville Straight Rye (USA) - $35.63 a bottle
    3. Midleton Dair Ghaelach (Ireland) - $282.49 a bottle
    4. William Larue Weller Bourbon (USA) - $46.09 a bottle
    5. Suntory Yamazaki Mizunara (Japan) - $54.47 a bottle

    Who is this Murray guy?  And what is this Bible about?  According to amazon.com -- which could never be accused of bias --

      Jim Murray is a legend and a leading player on the world's whisky stage. In his continuous thirst for knowledge and desire to stay at the very top of his subject, he has almost certainly visited more distilleries and tasted a higher number of different whiskies than anyone that has ever lived. The Whisky Bible is unrivalled in its authority and is an invaluable source of reference to the consumer, the whisky industry and the drinks trade alike. It has now sold over more than a third of a million copies worldwide.

    I plan to try it as soon as possible.  I am guessing it will be sold out in local stores for a while.

    Edit: I found the Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye in my local supermarket.  World's best whiskey?  It's pretty good, but well ... it's not great.  You might call it a sipping whiskey.  One small mouthful is aromatic, and the flavor stays with you for several minutes.

     

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