Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2014 Results

It's that time of year once again for Jim Murray's summary on the whisky that was and what should be on your shopping list. An easy target for criticism, I actually enjoy the bible as a resource for future years. I've yet to plough through the book itself, but here is the result summary - so if you don't want to know, look or click away now!

2014 World Whisky of the Year
1. Glenmorangie Ealanta 1993
2. William Larue Weller (123.4 proof)
3. Thomas Handy Sazerac Rye (132.4 proof) 

I actually have both American entries here but not the overall winner. I have seen the Glenmorangie at the distillery and felt it was more style over substance but clearly it has struck a note with Jim. The Ealanta also won Scotch whisky of the year and single malt of the year from multiple casks. Moving further into the Scotch categories:

Single cask single malt of the year - SMWS 33.120 Ardbeg 8 year old
Scotch blend of the year - Ballantine's 17 year old
Scotch grain of the year - Clan Deny Dumbarton 48 years old
Scotch vatted malt of the year - Six isles St Etienne rum cask finish 

And into the single malt categories:

No Age Statement (multiple casks) - Ardbeg Corryvreckan
NAS runner up - Aberfeldy Unravel
10 years & under (multiple casks) - Glen Grant Aged 10 years
10 years & under (single cask) - SMWS 33.120 Ardbeg 8 year old
11-15 years (multiple casks) - Highland Park Loki aged 15 years
11-15 years (single cask) - The warehouse collection Clynelish aged 15 years
16-21 years (multiple casks) - Glenmorangie Ealanta
16-21 years (single cask) - Aberfeldy single cask aged 21 yeras
22-27 years (multiple casks) - Highland Park aged 25 years
22-27 years (single cask) - SMWS 77.28 Glen Ord 25 years
28-34 years (multiple casks) - Maxwell 33 year old Highland malt
28-34 years (single cask) - Chieftan's Port Ellen Aged 30 years
35-40 years (multiple casks) - old Pulteney Aged 40 years
35-40 years (single cask) - Glenglassaugh Massandra Collection Aleatico 39 years
41 years and over (multiple casks) - Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1960
41 years and over (single cask) - Glendronach Recherche 1968

Then finishing off Scotland, we have the blended Scotch results:

NAS (standard) - Ballantine's Finest
NAS (premium) - Johnnie Walker Blue Label Casks Edition
5-12 years - Johnnie Walker Black Label Edition
13-18 years - Ballantine's 17 year old
19-25 years - Hankey Bannister 21 years old
26-50 years - The last drop 50 years old

We'll round up the results covering Ireland, America, Canada, Japan, Europe and the rest of the world right here. Say what you like about Jim, but these annual lists prompt debate and focuses my mind on what I might want to try next.