Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2016 crowns rye whisky of Canadian Crown Royal

Crown Royal Northern Harvest is the name of the whisky that suddenly is in the public eye since Jim Murray presented his new Whisky Bible and with it his new favorites. He declared the Crown Royal Rye to be his Whisky of the Year. And as we are used to from last year’s experiences Murray walks off the beaten tracks again and surprises the whisky world. The controversial author is aware of this and writes in a news on his website: “Last year people were shocked when I gave Yamazaki the award – until they tasted it. (…) This year, doubtless there will be many more eyebrows raised because rarely is Canada mentioned when it come to the world’s top whiskies.” But he were sure that everyone will agree with him as soon as they tasted this Crown Royal release that convinced him with its “uncompromising and unique beauty”.

Rye, rye and pure pot still - single malt is an also-ran

Crown Royal Northern Harvest is a rye whisky that hits this category perfectly because the amount of rye in the mash is 90 percent. The whisky is produced in the Gimli Distillery at Lake Winnipeg. It’s the first time in the 13 year old history of the Whisky Bible that a Canadian whisky is on top of the list. Following on second place is the Pikesville 100 proof Straight Rye – a rye whisky as well. Third best whisky of the world for Murray is the Irish pure pot still whiskey Dair Ghaelach from Midleton. This is a premiere as well because up to now no Irish whisky had have made it on the winner’s podium of the three best whiskys. Regarding places four and five with William Larue Weller Bourbon from Buffalo Trace and Japanese Yamazaki Mizunara it shows that Scottish whiskies again are not showered with praise.

Well-known brands dominate Scottish categories

In the categorie SCOTCH the word of whisky is in order again at last for most of the surprised whisky fans: they can read about Glenfarclas Familiy Cask being Scotch Whisky of the Year and Single Malt of the Year, of Ardbeg Supernova as the best Scotch without age statement and of Tomatin, Benriach and Ledaig as winners in the categories of long matured releases. Maybe there’s one exception: The relatively unknown Gruwehewwel of German independent bottler SaarWhisky won in the category Single Malt 10 Years and under (single cask).

And this is the list of all winners in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2016

(According to “thewhiskyexchange.com”)

SCOTCH

Scotch Whisky of the Year
Glenfarclas 1957 Family Casks #2110

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks)
Glen Grant 10yo

Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask)
Glenfarclas 1957 Family Casks #2110

Scotch Blend of the Year
The Last Drop 50yo Scotch

Grain of the Year
Clan Deny Cambus 1987 25yo #9320

Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year
Compass Box The Lost Blend

Single Malt Scotch

No Age Statement (Multiple Casks)
Ardberg Supernova 2009

No Age Statement (Runner Up)
Laphroaig An Cuan Mor

10 Years & Under (Multiple Casks)
Glen Grant 10yo

10 Years & Under (Single Cask)
Saar Gruwehewwel

11-15 Years (Multiple Casks)
Gordon and MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Strathmill 2002

11-15 Years (Single Cask)
SMWS 4.199 (Highland Park 1999)

16-21 Years (Multiple Casks)
Old Pulteney 21yo

16-21 Years (Single Cask)
Old Malt Cask Highland Park 1998

22-27 Years (Multiple Casks)
Glen Moray Port Cask Finish

22-27 Years (Single Cask)
Wemyss Kirsch Gateau (Bunnahabhain)

28-34 Years (Multiple Casks)
Tomatin 1988 25yo Batch 2

28-34 Years (Single Cask)
Glenfarclas 1985 Family Casks #2593

35-40 Years (Multiple Casks)
Tomatin 36yo Rare Casks Batch 1

35-40 Years (Single Cask) BenRiach 1977 Batch

11 41 Years & Over (Multiple Casks)
Ledaig 42 Years Old

41 Years & Over (Single Cask)
Glenfarclas 1957 Family Casks #2110

BLENDED SCOTCH

No Age Statement (Standard)
Ballantine’s Finest

No Age Statement (Premium)
Ballantine’s Limited

5-12 Years
Johnie Walker Black Label

13-18 Years
Ballantine’s 17

19 – 25 Years
Royal Salute 21

26 – 50 Years
The Last Drop

50 Years
Old Sherry Wood

IRISH WHISKEY

Irish Whiskey of the Year
Midleton Dair Ghaelach

Irish Pot Still Whiskey of the Year
Midleton Dair Ghaelach

Irish Single Malt of the Year
SMWS 118.3

Irish Blend of the Year
Powers Gold Label

AMERICAN WHISKEY

Bourbon of the Year
William Larue Weller 2014

Rye of the Year
Pikesville Rye 110 Proof US Micro

Whisky of the Year
Notch 12 US Micro

Whisky of the Year (Runner Up)
McCarthy’s Batch U14-01

BOURBON

No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels)
William Larue Weller 2014

No Age Statement (Single Barrel)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project Barrel 20

9 Years & Under
Booker’s Bourbon 63.95%

10-17 Years (Multiple Barrels)
Eagle Rare 17yo 2014 RYE

No Age Statement
Thomas H Handy

Up to 10 Years
Pikesville Straight Rye 110 Proof

11 Years & Over
Sazerac 18yo 2014

WHEAT

Wheat Whiskey of the Year
Parker’s Heritage 13yo / Release 8

CANADIAN WHISKY

Canadian Whisky of the Year
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

JAPANESE WHISKY

Japanese Whisky of the Year
Yamazaki Mizunara 2014 (Japan only)

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Barrels)
Yamazaki Mizunara 2014 (Japan only)

Single Malt of the Year (Single Barrel)
SMWS 119.14

EUROPEAN WHISKY

European Whisky of the Year (Multiple)
English Whisky Co. Chapter 16 / Peated Sherry Cask

European Whisky of the Year (Single)
Kornog Taouarc’h Chweec’hved 14 BC

WORLD WHISKIES

Asian Whisky of the Year
Amrut Greedy Angels 10yo

Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year
Heartwood The Good Convict

Credits Photo: whiskybible.com

About the author Petra Milde

Petra Milde is a freelance author of books and specialist writing about spirits and food. She has been supporting the Whisky.de editorial team since 2015 and creates informative and entertaining articles in the news section.

Besides her writing work, she moderates tastings and can be met at spirits fairs, both behind the stands and in front of them, looking for new products and interesting people to talk to.

more