Whiskey Bible 2012

[IainB]

I believe it's out in the next week or two. I know we can all make our own minds up etc. etc. but I can't be the only one who's a little bit curious about what he'll make or the new SPS range.

For example, which will he rate higher... Powers JL or Midleton Legacy?

What about Writers Tears cask strength?

Will Ardbeg or a Buffalo Trace whiskey of some sort come out on top this year? (It'll hardly be anything else)?

etc. etc.

I've heard some people speculate he'll like the Powers JL - I love it but I have my doubts as to what he'll make of it.

[JohnM]

I think it's the end of October. He'll love the one that closest resembles what he says he's been asking IDL for.

[damienmcguigan]

Pre-order it from here and you can get it signed or personally dedicated by the man himself.
10% off if you pay with paypal and £1 off with the discount code FBOFFER2011. Mine was £12.04 in total.

[JohnM]

Powers John's Lane is this year's top Irish whiskey...

[IainB]

Did you get the book? Interesting. What score?

[DavidH]

I'm curious about the Powers JL v the Midleton Barry C. I'd put the Powers ahead but many went the opposite way.

[JohnM]

I'm not sure what the scores are. I haven't got the book yet, but this is what I know so far.

IRISH WHISKEY
Irish Whiskey of the Year - Powers John’s Lane Release Aged 12 Years
Irish Single Malt of the Year - Sainsbury’s Dún Léire Aged 8 Years
Irish Blend of the Year - Jameson Rarest 2007 Vintage Reserve

[John]

Irish Blend of the Year - Jameson Rarest 2007 Vintage Reserve

I wonder about this, surely the competition should be between drinks released within the year of review? Seems odd that a whiskey released in 2007 should be voted the best Irish blend of 2011 / 2012! Can't say I agree with the choice for best Irish whiskey, as for selecting the Sainsburys release as the best Irish Single Malt, well the less said the better.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

The full list of winners:

Overall Winners
2012 World Whisky of the Year – Old Pulteney 21 Years old
Second Finest Whisky in the World – George T. Stagg
Third Finest World Whisky in the World – Parker’s Heritage Collection Wheated Mash Bill Bourbon Aged 10 Years
SCOTCH
Scotch Whisky of the Year – Old Pulteney 21 Years Old
Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks) – Old Pulteney 21 Years Old
Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask) – Scott’s Selection Highland Park 1981
Best Scotch New Brand – Clan Gold Blended
Scotch Blend of the Year – Ballantine’s 17 Years Old
Scotch Grain of the Year – Clan Deny Cambus 47 Years Old
Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year – Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Years Old
Single Malt Scotch
No Age Statement (Multiple Casks) – Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX
No Age Statement (Runner Up) – Laphroaig Quarter Cask
10 Years & Under (Multiple Casks) – Ardbeg 10 Years Old
10 Years & Under (Single Cask) – SMWS 126.2 Aged 10 Years (Hazelburn)
11-15 Years (Multiple Casks) – The Macallan Fine Oak 12 Years Old
11-15 Years (Single Cask) – Berry’s Own Selection Clynelish 1997
16-21 Years (Multiple Casks) – Old Pulteney 21 Years Old
16-21 Years (Single Cask) – The GlenDronach Single Cask 1992
22-27 Years (Multiple Casks) – Highland Park Aged 25 Years
22-27 Years (Single Cask) – Malts of Scotland Port Ellen 1983
28-34 Years (Multiple Casks) – Benromach Years Old 30
28-34 Years (Single Cask) – Scott’s Selection Highland Park 1981
35-40 Years (Multiple Casks) – Balvenie Aged 40 Years Batch 2
35-40 Years (Single Cask) – Peerless Glen Grant 40 Years Old
41 Years & Over (Multiple Casks) – Highland Park 50 Years Old
41 Years & Over (Single Cask) – Gordon and MacPhail Glenlivet 1954
Blended Scotch
No Age Statement (Standard) – Ballantine’s Finest
No Age Statement (Premium) – Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute
5-12 Years – Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Years Old
13-18 Years – Ballantine’s 17 Years Old
19 – 25 Years – William Grant’s 25 Years Old
26 – 50 Years – The Last Drop 50 Years Old
IRISH WHISKEY
Irish Whiskey of the Year – Powers John’s Lane Release Aged 12 Years
Irish Single Malt of the Year – Sainsbury’s Dún Léire Aged 8 Years
Irish Blend of the Year – Jameson Rarest 2007 Vintage Reserve
AMERICAN WHISKEY
Bourbon of the Year – George T. Stagg (143 proof)
Rye of the Year – Thomas H. Handy Sazerac (126.9 proof)
Bourbon
No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels) – George T. Stagg (143 proof)
No Age Statement (Single Barrel) – Four Roses Single Barrel
9 Years & Under – Virgin Bourbon 7 Years Old (101 Proof)
10-17 Years – Parker’s Heritage Collection Wheated Mash Bill Aged 10 Years (124.2 proof)
18 Years & Over (Single Barrel) – Elijah Craig 18 Years Old Single Barrel
18 Years & Over (Multiple Barrel) – Evan Williams 23 Year Old
Rye
No Age Statement – Thomas Handy Sazarac (126.9 proof)
11 Years & Over – High West Rocky Mountain 21 Year Old
CANADIAN WHISKY
Canadian Whisky of the Year – Crown Royal Special Reserve
JAPANESE WHISKY
Japanese Whisky of the Year – Hibiki Aged 21 Years
EUROPEAN WHISKY
European Whisky of the Year (Multiple) – Mackmyra Moment “Urberg”
European Whisky of the Year (Single) – Penderyn Bourbon Matured Single Cask
WORLD WHISKIES
Indian Whisky of the Year – Amrut Two Continents 2nd Edition
New World Whisky of the Year – Kavalan Solist Fino Single Cask

Looking forward to my copy of the Whisky Bible this year so I can delve a little deeper, new this year also is an Android/iphone app which I believe is due out in November, so if you prefer the hand-held electronic version you'll have to hold out a little longer.

[damienmcguigan]

Did you get the book? Interesting. What score?

Got mine in the post today. Power's John's Lane got 96.5.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Wow, 96.5 is I believe the highest score Jim Murray has given to an Irish Whiskey ever, given the top three Irish Whiskey scores of all time are IDL, there is a fighting chance that they will at some point break into the top three in the world (still a tall order I must admit - but that day must be getting closer.)

Must update my table as soon as I get my hands on the 2012 bible!

[damienmcguigan]

Wow, 96.5 is I believe the highest score Jim Murray has given to an Irish Whiskey ever, given the top three Irish Whiskey scores of all time are IDL, there is a fighting chance that they will at some point break into the top three in the world (still a tall order I must admit - but that day must be getting closer.)

Must update my table as soon as I get my hands on the 2012 bible!

Part of his notes on the Power's states that it is in his Top 5 world whiskies of the year. I will write the full info when I get home.

[damienmcguigan]

As promised....

(96.5) N24 Unmistakeable. Unique. Utopian. Irish pure pot still at its most embracing and magnificent. That bizarre bipolar character of rock hard grain so at home in the company of silky, molten, honey. Some light, non-specific fruit - a bit like boiled sweets in a candy shop. But a vague menthol note too... T25 As Irish whiskey goes: perfection! The delivery can come only from Irish Pot Still - I have encountered it nowhere else. And it is a replay of the nose: soft, dissolve-on-the-palate honey and elsewhere strands of something much firmer - hardening more and more as it moves to the middle ground. F23.5 Wonderful fade: a distant medium roast Java, the Lubec marzipan which you just knew would be coming; a little caramel; some orangey notes... B24 This is a style of Irish Pot Still I have rarely seen outside the blending lab. I had many times thought of trying to find some of this and bottling it myself. No need now. I think I have just tasted Irish Whiskey of the Year and certainly one of the top five world whiskies of the year.

[Luke Gough]

Any ratings for the current Redbreast 12/15 releases in the 2012 Whiskey Bible?

[Fionnán]

on Luke's point, is there any mention of the cask strength redbreast or is that too recent for an inclusion?

[IrishWhiskeyChaser]

I'm curious about the Powers JL v the Midleton Barry C. I'd put the Powers ahead but many went the opposite way.

Ditto, The Powers wins it for me as it is a wonderful expression of full & complex taste profiles but both are really excellent whiskeys. The Midleton is a softer easier to drink whiskey but in no way a simple whiskey though and plenty going on in there too.

on Luke's point, is there any mention of the cask strength redbreast or is that too recent for an inclusion?

unfortunately the RB 12yo CS would have been way too late for this edition. But something to challenge for Irish Whiskey of the year next year

[JohnM]

No Redbreast cask strength, but he will concentrate on the Irish much more next year, tasting all the available stuff again, he says. Not many tasted this year.

[JohnM]

The Tyrconnell 11 for Whiskylive got 95, by the way.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

My signed copy arrived today, looking forward to perusing it over the next few days!

[JohnM]

If you look at all the modern pure pot stills from Midleton, they all rate very highly. All in the 90s.

[TheWhiskeyBro]

Also noticed he is going to retaste Irish Whiskey's for his 2013 Bible... Can't wait

[Stephen]

anyone know exactly when the apple app is out ?