Jim Murray Whisky Bible 2012

I want his job.

I've ordered mine and one for my Pop. I found the Whisky Bible about five years ago then went and ordered back copies for the ones I'd missed. I have the whole set. Looks like a good job. Any of you younger whippersnappers that want to inherit this mantle surely can, given enough effort. Michael Jackson, Jim Murray, ???...

I have already pre-ordered the 2012 Jim Murray Whisky Bible through Amazon.com. They say they expect to ship October 3rd.

Bought my first one last year the 2011 version and my wife has got me this one this year (mostly for Xmas). It's quite amazing when you think about the amount of work that goes into a book like this.
I personally find that I tend to agree more with Michael Jackson's rating than Jim Murray's but as a reference book for all whisky's (Canadian, Blends, Bourbon's, etc) it cannot be beat. As Peatpete said I too would love his job if just for a month or two.

I always consider this site as my digital whisky bible because I care more about what everyday people think about the whiskies than professional tasters usually. That being said, I think that I might cave and buy a copy of Jim Murray's Whisky Bible this year because like @Lars said, it's just such a great reference to have.

I always like the whisky bible for its colourful descriptions. Definitely worth a few bob, although always worth cross-checking other sources such as here, where possible. Cheers for tips, Lars!

When are the 2012 awards announced?

I'm also planning to buy a copy of Jim Murray's whisky bible for the first time. I've noticed that I don't often thoroughly disagree with his reviews and although I always check for other reviews on connosr, it's great as a general guideline to find unknown gems.

Jim Murray's Whisky Bible Awards 2012 are out today with Old Pulteney 21 year old taking the prize for "World Whisky of the Year 2012"

See more results and find the best deals on these whiskies on our awards page over at Whisky Marketplace whiskymarketplace.com/awards/…

@Connosr, Yep, I sure did like that Old Putlteney 21 when I had it on a whisky cruise a few months ago! Murray likes it too, I see.

Got my signed copy in today.

I just got my copy. There's a sheet inside announcing the new Whisky Bible App for iPhone and Android. "Available from November 2011". Here's a photo: i.imgur.com/WlY5Il.jpg I know I'll buy it. It doesn't mention the price... I'm sure they're worried about the App eating into book sales...

@Connosr I honestly wonder how much sales increase when Murray gives a whisky the title of whisky of the year?
I'm noticed a few people here adding Old Pulteney to their wish list or to their cabinet and they are only a small percentage of the population. I would think it is certainly a windfall for Old Pulteney.

@Lars I've checked around and it seems out stocks in most stores...it HAS been a windfall for them :) but I think Old Pulteney deserves that, is one of those distilleries which plainly carry on with their job without much hype or boasting or weird gaelic names! :)

Old Pulteney has been a favorite of mine for years. I agree with Jim Murray's awarding it whisky of the year. I must say though that I feel Mr. Murray picks WWOTY from only widely available brands and bottlings, which is as it should be. If he named a 50 year old Macallan or a Single Cask Ben Nevis each year we'd all quickly lose interest in The Bible. I'd bet he does find real stunners during the year that he cannot pick as WWOTY for this reason. I wonder if he has a private WWOTY that he tells very few about?

I still tend to use The Bible as a buying guide whenever I encounter something I'm not familiar with. And some of my favorites do not rate highly with Mr. Murray.

@lucadanna1985 Our MLCC carries it for around $150(Cdn) a bottle a bit steep for me especially since I've never had any. I think I'll try it's baby brother the 12 yr first unless I can find a local restaurant that carries the 21 yr. @Wodha I agree with you I'm sure Jim Murray has a few special bottles that he keeps to himself. I hope that Old Pulteney continues it's fine job that it seems to be doing but keeps the prices the same. :)

Have received my copy of the WB 2012 this morning and I have to say I feel somewhat cheated/disappointed by it. Isn't it largely the same as last year's with a few amended reviews/scores? I mean, if you don't have last year's then it doesn't make any difference but if you do then you are essentially getting the same thing again, apart from a few changes such as Old Pulteney 21yo coming from nowhere to claim this years title, which is great as I love OP. Unimpressed..

@smokeybarrels : According to the site ( www.whiskybible.com/2011news.htm) there are "over 1.200 new tastings of whiskies, so that's a quite substantial number, some 25% of the total. You can't expect Jim Murray to taste every whisky every year again. So, for most people, buying a copy every couple of years will do. Only the most diehard connosrs will want to have every new edition to see the changes.

Well, that's just my opinion of course. ;)

@Fons (or should that be @Roly "I freely admit I was very, very drunk" Birkin QC) Yes it does actually say that on the back of the book. But only 1200 tastings? Surely your compatriot and our very own @markjedi1 does more than that per annum just on the 'toshans and he's not being paid for the privilege (and his reviews are better!).

No, you're right, it's expecting too much for someone to accurately review 4500 whiskies in a year and live to tell the tale, and it is after all a superb reference book for us enthusiasts. And I have already pre-ordered my copy of the Whisky Bible 2013 :)

If you read it cover to cover, which I admit I nearly do, you'll notice Jim drops dozens of entries from previous years to make room for newer notes. I've remembered an obscure review and have had to go back two or three years to find the entry. I wish he'd keepevery note form all the previous years but if he did it'd be a thousand pages. This is why I'm really looking forward to the app. I hope he has every entry he ever wrote in it.

In regards to retasting the same vintage bottles from last year for this year's edition: doesn't make sense. Same whisky sitting on a shelf unopened should yield the same results, no?

I have last years Bible, and am uncertain about buying the 2012 one. Something that would seal the deal for me would be to know if he did a review of the Hellyers Road distillery from Tasmania, Australia. Can anyone who has already bought the 2012 edition tell me if this is included in it please?

@Peatpete he reviews Tasman (favourably) and Tasmania (not so favourably) distilleries. Can't see anything about Hellyers though. Cradle mountains in there, too..

@Wodha Agreed re Vintage bottlings, there's no point, other than maybe to "double check" or an excuse to try a particularly good expression again. But with age statement whiskies of a higher volume of turnover there is going to be a fluctuation in quality and this is what I was getting at. Anyway, my initial disdain gave way to a homer-esque "how could I stay mad at you, Jim?" when I saw he had given Tomintoul 16yo 94.5 points this year, when I think it got about 86 last year, that shows for me he knows what he's talking about-if there was ever any doubt!

And I'll never grow tired of reading his HP18 appraisal "a thick dollop of honey spread across a layer of salted butter/in the background the ashes of a peat fire are emptied", in fact I would have it as an epitaph on my urn (If indeed Urn's can have epitaph's?).

@smokeybarrels Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I don't taste 1200 a year... (not enough time, I guess :)) I taste about 365 - one a day, you could say. Jim's style is altogether different, but that is probably also due to space considerations. Otherwise we'd need help to carry the book around!

I just got my 2012 WB. I purchased a 2011 last year. I can see why some might be slightly disappointed although I personally am not. When you become familiar with the reviews in a particular area, then you start to scan for the new product entries and the retested product entries. The new ones have a designation at the beginning and the retested ones have a designation at the end of the entry. Otherwise though, about 3/4 of the entries are the same.

It is gratifying to see positive entries for new products like Bulleit Rye and 1792 Ridgemont Reserve and retests for other things like Ancient Age 10 Star. On the other hand, it is frustrating that some widely available but new products are not reviewed, in particular Johnnie Walker Double Black comes to mind as well as something widely available in my neck of the woods, Seagrams VO Gold--given his fondness for regular Seagrams VO, just wondering if VO Gold would get similar raves. Alas both of those are absent.

I guess availability is in the eye of the beholder. Being near bourbon country, there is great availability of US whiskies here but half or more of the Scottish blends I have never seen before. I am sure it is the same if you are in Canada or Ireland or another whisky producing area.

I'll be curious to hear about the App.

I admire Jim Murray for his courage. After all, what sets a person up for more attack than giving his opinion on 4,500 subjects, NOT ONE TO WHICH the reader can compare the exact sample from the exact bottle and batch reviewed? When Murray doesn't like something which I do like, I think, well, his bottle is not necessarily close in character to my own. Substantial variation occurs frequently with whiskies. I really cannot say whether HIS sample is just as he says it is. I expect that it is. Notice that he frequently has two reviews of the same named whisky with different scores and different descriptions for this exact reason. And I very much appreciate his correcting in the 2012 Bible a significant error regarding Pappy Van Winkle 15 bourbon present in the 2011 Bible. That requires character.

@Victor I agree. Anyone who criticises JM or his bible is a fool :)

Since I am still quite new to the world of whisky, I bought the bible some days ago to get an overview what's out there to discover and to get some further reference for my next orders. Still have to wait and see if his taste matches mine, although most of my favorites get quite high ratings by JM, which is a good sign i guess. I like his style of writing and the amount of bottles rated is clearly impressive!

Concerning his influence: That can't be underestimated as I, as a newbie i.e., definitely want to try the Old Pulteney 21y now ^^ I guess it'll be the same for loads of people, especially beginners who are looking for some guidance when they start discovering!

I got the iPhone app yesterday. Here's my review:

I LOVE Jim Murray's printed Whisky Bible. I have every edition since it began. I was excited for the app. I'm happy I got it but must report my experience. It's sluggish. I searched for "Stagg" and "George" and found nothing. Then I navigated to George T Stagg through Bourbon > Buffalo Trace > George T Stagg. So the Search function needs work. The graphics are large and clunky. I'll buy the next generation as I'm a huge fan. But if you want a smooth and efficient app you might want to wait for the next version.

I gave it 2 out of 5 stars

I got the app and I like it. I don't agree with Jim's take on every whiskey (some he likes I don't and vice versa) but I generally find it a great guide before I buy something new. The app is sluggish but so handy to be able to pull it up surreptitiously in a bottle shop when you're confronted with something new!