Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2018 - The Winners

@OdysseusUnbound, I have subscribed to Whisky Advocate for several years now. What I value highly in it is the industry news, feature articles, and pretty photography. I never pay much attention to the reviews or recommendations of the contributors. I don't go there for taste or opinion, only information.

@talexander I guess I just feel that 90 should be something that one can recognize as really good despite a difference of preferences. I found Macallan 12 DC incredibly ordinary, and that was the good, non-sulphured one. Oh well, maybe I shouldn’t rule out a subscription to WA based on one review with which I disagree.

@OdysseusUnbound Why would you only want to read reviews you agree with? Isn't it more interesting to read reviews that are contrary to your taste?

@talexander Yes and no. I could see someone rating Laphroaig or Ardbeg very differently than me because they’re polarizing whiskies. But I found that one so “meh” (the un-sulphured one). It’s like if someone raves about Auchentoshan 12. I mean, it isn’t bad, but 90 feels like something you get hot and bothered about. And I’m thinking if the editors chose it as one of their top 20, it wasn’t just one person who vetted it. I’m interested when someone has a different point of view/different taste only if they can explain it. The Scotch Noob’s tastes are quite different than mine, yet I enjoy his blog. Even @Victor differs with me on a few things, but he is always articulate when he reviews. That said, the more people freak out over Macallan, the less chance other whiskies I actually like go up in price. I couldn’t care less if I never saw/was able to buy a Macallan. The Rare Cask was very good, but $400 is ridiculous. Even the Sienna was quite enjoyable, but I literally laughed when I saw it at the LCBO for $190. I guess I’m lucky. I will never buy any Macallan at that price.

@OdysseusUnbound ___ 82/83 is very very generous

@talexander _ without rereading your review I'm guessing you didn't detect any sulphur. I got sulphur and that ruins it for me.

@OdysseusUnbound Funny, Murray gives the 'Toshan 12 a 91.5 (which I've tasted and liked but I don't think I've ever owned a bottle - I can't remember). Something that we might find bland and non-descript someone else might go crazy over its subtlety, delicacy, etc etc. I love Jack Daniels and can describe note after note, but most of my friends hate it (how's that for polarizing - it's the best selling whisky on the planet, yet the vast majority of connoisseurs hate it). So I think these things are completely subjective across the board. I mean, look at the whiskies that win awards from Whisky Advocate, World Whiskies Awards and Jim Murray - they are almost all completely different bottles. Unlike awards for movies, music etc, there is absolutely no consistency whatsoever. It's all completely subjective, and thus all perfectly valid.

@paddockjudge No, I didn't detect any. I've had sulphured Macallans before (Whisky Maker's Edition - ugh - I scored that a 69). You know, I go back and read my old reviews, and I think I used to be a much better writer - I've gotten lazy. My old reviews are funnier and more descriptive. Gotta up my game!!!

@paddockjudge, we won't be 'apples to apples' with @talexander unless we ask him whether he tasted any sulphur in @Nozinan's bottle of Macallan 12 Double Cask. That is, after all, our frame of reference. (Well, mine anyway, and at least one of yours.)

@talexander My taste is obviously different than Mr. Murray. There are plenty of whiskies I find delicate, yet not Auchentoshan-level boring. Oban and Dalwhinnie come to mind. And fwiw, I’ve hit some particularly good bottles of Old No.7, so I’m with you there.

@OdysseusUnbound I’m with you in the sense that a 90 should be reserved for whisky that is very good. That doesn’t mean that everyone who drinks it should rate it that high (different palates, preferences, tastes - oh my!), but one should be able to see how the whisky could stand out to someone else. It shouldn’t be non- descript, but good. Macallan, as you stated earlier, wouldn’t be polarizing in the way a more distinct whisky would be (laphroaig), but a 90 should be reserved for a whisky that is a standout. Macallan DC isn’t a standout. Likeable? Sure. A standout. No.

@talexander @OdysseusUnbound I would rate Macallan 12 around 85 as well maybe even 87 but it lacks greatness to reach the 90 pts.

@talexander @OdysseusUnbound I usually don't like the Old No 7 but I had some fantastic SB. As I said before, there is a famous wine expert who said that there is no great wine only great bottles. We often talk about batch variation but we should talk also about bottle variation.

@Robert99 You're right. And as @Victor previously mentioned, mass-produced whiskies tend to exhibit more batch/bottle variation. I've encountered it quite a bit with JD Old No.7, Crown Royal Northern Harvest (though I've liked all of them, unlike many others), and every bottle of plain ol' Jameson seems like a new adventure.

@talexander Yes, time to up your game. Got any medical procedures planned?

@Victor I don't own a bottle of Macallan double cask.

@Nozinan, then whose bottle of Mac 12 DC was it that we were drinking at your house? @paddockjudge's?

@Victor , my bottle of Mac 12 Double Brimstone...and Signatory Highland Park Brimstone

@paddockjudge, I am with you on those, brother. A few of you have enjoyed your experiences of Macallan 12 yo Double Cask. You could not get me to drink it for free. A sip of a sulphur-ruined whisky like that serves only to vividly remind me of how bad it is.

Does every bottle of Macallan 12 Double Cask taste like that? Maybe not, but you could not get me to buy a bottle of that one for tuppence.

@Victor I did not get sulphur on the Mac 12 DC but since others have, I'm almost tempted to buy another bottle and see if I get it.

@talexander Or you could just send me $100...I mean, if you’re planning on gambling with it anyway.

@OdysseusUnbound I'm sure I can get a few Rusty Nails out of it :P

@talexander _ I'll bring the tainted Mac 12 Double Trouble to our next gathering. I wonder if time has been kind to it?

@paddockjudge Well then fuck it I'll buy a new Mac 12 DC and crack it at the same time and commence the SEARCH FOR SULPHUR!

@talexander _ you _ my friend _ are a whisky prospector!

..............................................................................the comma on my keyboard is kaput

@paddockjudge Oh, is that why you've been typing like that? I just figured you were drunk.

@talexander _ I don't operate heavy equipment or machinery or keyboards when I'm drinking...................................spill too much

@talexander, problem is, lots of sulphured whiskies, Scotch and Canadian, have the sulphur hidden from a new bottle. Months or years later, blam!!! BTW, I think it was mostly sulphur that you didn't like from Ardbeg Ardbog, but it often doesn't show clearly as sulphur til it gets a lot of air.

I had a bottle of Forty Creek Barrel Select which I hunted for sulphur (because Murray had warned about it) for months without finding any. Then, after about 6 months or so, BLAM! Big time undrinkable sulphur. Chieftain's Glenburgie 13 yo, Ardbeg Ardbog, Ardbeg Galileo, Auchentoshan Three Wood, Glenmorangie Companta ...these are all whiskies in which I could NOT taste any sulphur...until later.

@talexander, I think that you are often doing yourself a big favour by finishing off those bottles early. When I eventually open another Ardbog, I will not let it hang around very long. Yes, yes, I know, you never liked that one. I did like it,...at first.

@Victor Interesting, I hadn't thought of it that way. I'll have to pay attention to that with certain whiskies, especially if I know there are sherry casks in there.

@Victor I’ve noticed the same thing with FC Barrel Select. My folks tend to keep some whisk(e)y around for when my moochy brother and I visit. The last bottle of Forty Creek they kept at their trailer/cottage was opened for just about a year when I detected some weird notes I can only attribute to sulphur. It is a weird thing. My cousin opened a bottle of Barrel Select to share on Saturday and it was delightful, like a glass full of Werther’s Original candies with a boozy kick. Maybe it’s best to finish these quickly.