Big fuss about a little book

Now we have the good Jim Murray so again with its annual Whisky Bible (WB) happy. This year's edition caused a powerful vortex. How could Jim select a Japanese just as the world's best whiskey? In the squares then follow a Bourbon and an American rye whiskey. According to the relevant tabloids so a slap for the Scots? No! Still make the Scots quite good whiskey, only it has of the newly tasted bottlings (at least 1,145 new arrivals in the WB this year) managed not to the front here. But his statement is quite thought-provoking! Due to the huge increase in demand for whiskey, the shareholder value mentality of many major corporations, the increasing use of "verschwefelten" ex-sherry casks, slowly problematic expectant availability of good used barrels, the abolition of the age given on many new bottlings and the partly dramatic price increase Scotch whiskey can not say that everything is in perfect order. So is the selection of this year's winners certainly be seen as "political" statement. Incidentally applies to notice that Jim in Frankfort / Kentucky maintains a residence and he was romantically involved for a time with a Japanese woman. From his love for Bourbon and Rye whiskeys he has never made a secret and in previous years it had brought several bottlings from the states far forward. That the Japanese for many years a skilled hand in the whiskey production (eg Yoichi, Yamazaki, Hanyu), is also nothing new.

Taste is always subjective and the WB reflects the tasting notes from Jim Murray again and not of Hans and Franz. In the tasting of whiskey you can not produce the same results or even. At least put his notes a counter-proposal is the beautiful texts of the marketing departments of companies and spirits bottlers.

Otherwise, apply to the WB, the annual statements: damn small font, no photos, over 4,700 tasting notes about whiskeys from around the world, classical evaluation scheme with a maximum of 25 points for smell / taste / reverb / overall impression. The book is not intended for beginners, since there is no basic knowledge is mediated. Here it's all about the review of the bottlings. No more, no less!

I did that Browse the WB again a lot of fun. Also renowned distilleries and bottlers do not come off well with all their bottlings. Amazing how big the whiskey world has become. The European and international part of the WB includes many new bottlings. Who buys his whiskey comes from the supermarket, of course, many of the fillings will not be found there. In good specialist shops and at fairs you will find many but the "exotic" and limited bottlings. As the WB is then already constitute a useful advisory assistance.

Conclusion: Let the church in the village. Despite polarizing votes remains the WB the most extensive available in the market book with tasting notes. The price is okay, that format is perfect for your pocket.