2013 Whisky Bible by Jim Murray

Just got the same email! Looking forward to seeing what whiskies he thinks are going this year. I've had a couple negative Murray whiskies that he liked but it's rare.

It definitely is useful... but only to a relative afficianado I'd say. You have to be whisky-smart enough and experienced enough to understand what you like, and to be able to figure out what Murray likes, and know how the two relate. I mean, if you didn't know enough to figure out that the dude loves blends (esp. young ones), you could be in for some confusion and disappointment. I mean, he LOVES Jameson. In the 2012 ed., he emoted swoon while speaking of nosing a Jameson (yes, the NAS standard bottling). I shall emote shudder.

And I forgot to mention the flip-side, you have to be smart enough to decipher when he drops a bomb of 70-something on a whisky that's actually quite good, but just doesn't live up to its own standard.

Ha, the Whisky Bible website is down. Must be overloaded! I'll probably pick up a copy some place in the next few months. I really would like the inaugural Bible for my bookshelf, so far I've only got 2008, 2011 and 2012 so missing out on the full notes and scores of entries that have dropped out by the time 2008 was printed.

@valuewhisky Some good points there. The Bible is definitely not gospel but is useful nonetheless once you figure out what Jim Murray's tastes are, as you say.

I wonder when the e-edition for the iPhone/iPad will be ready? Though sometimes if you look at what he's rated as a "Golden Drop" is usually the "Special Edition" of the product you are trying compare to (like a Distillery edition, etc). which kinda blows.

I wish the app were an online version of the book. White background black text and nothing else. It's a stinker user experience. There's only a fraction of the book contents in the app. I'd like to see every note dating back to the first edition. I actually contacted Mr. Murray about two years ago and offered to develop the app. He informed me they were already on it. Now I hope they release updates annually and revamp the interface. I do like the book though. He's rated a couple of my favorites as 70s which is fine by me. As soon as he rates something on the mid 90s it's price goes up, I swear.

@Wodha "He's rated a couple of my favorites as 70s which is fine by me. As soon as he rates something on the mid 90s it's price goes up, I swear."

I guess the same. Tough for the bourbon-lovers though ;)

I did not know that, is it available at B&N?@Wodha

I picked up a copy of the 2012 edition today.

I plan to collect a copy for us (and a few copies for gifts) at the Victoria Whisky Festival in January.

@Wodha: +1 your comments. The average Connosr member is, in reality, better placed to assess, monitor and plot the development (or otherwise) of his cabinet of Whiskies than Jim Murray ever could!

Someone like @Victor with well in excess of a hundred open bottles at any one time can give a far clearer appraisal of a said Whisky /Whiskey at the popping of the cork, at six months and, for that matter, just how well those last couple of nips behave at, say, eighteen months, for a total picture of a Whisky and a much more useful guide to its' development, mellowing and eventual demise: Mr. Murray does not have the time, the space nor I suspect the inclination to plot the life cycle of thousands of Whiskies - We get for the most part his first impressions; and that's fair enough!

Thank God for @Victor and others who are willing to share their expertise, experience and well founded opinions with fellow members!

Slainte!

@A'bunadhman - I concur @A'bunadhman. And the best part is @Victor 's appraisals doesn't cause whisky prices to soar. I know, I know... I've been Murrayed quite a few times. Some are worth the price tag and some aren't. :-)