Jim Murray's World Whisky Awards for 2010

[JohnHansell]

I received a press release this morning announcing his awards for 2010. I posted them up here on my blog.

I thought some of them were interesting (surprising?), like the Evan Williams 23 year old winning an award. Anyway, have a look. I'm sure it will make for good conversation.

[OscarV]

Jim Beam Rye was the rye of the year?

Must have been the only one available for tasting.

[unclebunk]

Jim Beam Rye was the rye of the year?

Must have been the only one available for tasting.

It was the rye of the year "under 10 years old." Me, I'd go with Rittenhouse BIB.

[jburlowski]

It was the rye of the year "under 10 years old." Me, I'd go with Rittenhouse BIB.

.............. or Baby Saz

[Josh]

Reading those American Whiskey picks gave me a crick in the neck from shaking my head so much.

[barturtle]

What is "Course Grain"? Coarse Grain, I can understand...

[Josh]

What is "Course Grain"? Coarse Grain, I can understand...

[sailor22]

Gotta love all the opinions-- for me the best young rye is hands down

Old Potrero. Either the 18th or 19th century versions. My tasternater tells me nothing is even close in the 10 and under class for Rye.

I love Saz 18 and have used it to turn the heads of more than a few Scotch drinkers, but if I had to choose I think the BMH 23 Rye is my pick in that class.

[smokinjoe]

Am I correct in thinking that this is the 3rd time that an American whiskey has been named the best whiskey in the world by Murray? Can someone confirm that?

FWIW, I referred back to my 2006 Whiskey Bible (the only edition I own), where he rated the 2004 release of Saz 18 a 96, and was Rye whiskey of the year. He wrote a glowing review of it then.

FWIalsoW, The Saz 18 is such a spectacular whiskey, that it would be hard for me to argue against it in any year. Maybe, with his selection of it for 2010, he was making up for lost opportunities in previous years.

[unclebunk]

.............. or Baby Saz

Yes, of course. How could I have forgotten about Baby Saz? I like Rittenhouse BIB and Baby Saz much more than Beam Rye, though that's not to say that I don't enjoy Beam Rye as well. I think it's quite underrated, much like Beam Black, which I also enjoy.

[ErichPryde]

Gotta love all the opinions-- for me the best young rye is hands down

Old Potrero. Either the 18th or 19th century versions. My tasternater tells me nothing is even close in the 10 and under class for Rye.

I love Saz 18 and have used it to turn the heads of more than a few Scotch drinkers, but if I had to choose I think the BMH 23 Rye is my pick in that class.

I believe that someone from Anchor distilling actually said that because the Old Potrero uses mellowed barrels as opposed to charred ones, it cannot be classified as a "Straight Rye." if the award for 10 and under was issued to a straight rye, the potrero would be immediately excluded. I think the Potrero could possibly win in an "American Single malt" category, though...

[sku]

I think in past issues of the Bible, Murray has set out different categories for Straight Rye and Single Malt Rye (Old Potrero).

I didn't know that about Potrero's barrels. Single malt is, of course, not a legally defined term in the US, so there is no real regulation of it.

[barturtle]

I believe that someone from Anchor distilling actually said that because the Old Potrero uses mellowed barrels as opposed to charred ones, it cannot be classified as a "Straight Rye." if the award for 10 and under was issued to a straight rye, the potrero would be immediately excluded. I think the Potrero could possibly win in an "American Single malt" category, though...

My Old Potrero says "Single Malt Straight Rye Whiskey", but this is the 3yo barrel proof version (bottle date of 1/14/99, barrel date 12/27/95) 125.2 proof. It also says "Aged in new charred oak barrels for three years"

[ErichPryde]

My Old Potrero says "Single Malt Straight Rye Whiskey", but this is the 3yo barrel proof version (bottle date of 1/14/99, barrel date 12/27/95) 125.2 proof. It also says "Aged in new charred oak barrels for three years"

hmm. I must be thinking of the 18th century style... I apologize for getting my facts mangled.

the video I saw was here: it's somewhat interesting. (I think that's the right one)

[jinenjo]

I have three copies of Murray's Bible from different years and I wonder sometimes if he's not dialed in to the story behind some of the spirits he's reviewing.

This is a quote from the press release as posted on Hansell's blog:

"Distilled at Buffalo Trace distillery Kentucky, Sazerac 18 pipped into second place one of the smokiest whiskies ever produced, from the Ardbeg distillery on Islay."

First of all, while not having tasted the bottling yet, I must ask: Smoky???? Hmmm.

Second, does he not know it wasn't distilled at BT? Not to mention the fact that it has now sat in stainless steel for several years now.

For the record, I enjoy his notes quite a bit whether or not I agree with them.

[barturtle]

hmm. I must be thinking of the 18th century style... I apologize for getting my facts mangled.

the video I saw was here: it's somewhat interesting. (I think that's the right one)

I've not watched the video yet, but the 18th Century Style doesn't meet the age requirements for "Straight Whiskey" which requires a minimum of 2 years in the barrel. However it can carry the distinction of "Rye Whiskey" or "Rye Malt Whiskey" as the case may be with no minimum aging requirement (though it does need to be "stored" in the appropriate container)

[p_elliott]

hmm. I must be thinking of the 18th century style... I apologize for getting my facts mangled.

the video I saw was here: it's somewhat interesting. (I think that's the right one)

That was very interesting thanks Erik

[nor02lei]

I got a parcel today from mr Kruger with 2 bottles. One Overholt bottled 1981 distilled at Michters and one WT 101 bottled 1984. I got them at low bids. My tactic to bid a lot of low bids on good but not “must have†bottles pay of quit a bit I must say.

Leif

[dgonano]

I have three copies of Murray's Bible from different years and I wonder sometimes if he's not dialed in to the story behind some of the spirits he's reviewing.

This is a quote from the press release as posted on Hansell's blog:

"Distilled at Buffalo Trace distillery Kentucky, Sazerac 18 pipped into second place one of the smokiest whiskies ever produced, from the Ardbeg distillery on Islay."

First of all, while not having tasted the bottling yet, I must ask: Smoky???? Hmmm.

Second, does he not know it wasn't distilled at BT? Not to mention the fact that it has now sat in stainless steel for several years now.

For the record, I enjoy his notes quite a bit whether or not I agree with them.

He's stating that The Saz has overtaken Ardbeg, pushing their "smoky" whiskies down to 2nd place.

[nor02lei]

I did have the Amrut Fusion that Jim Murray gave 97 points alongside 6 other whiskies from Amrut and one 12-year highland on a tasting event in my local single malt club SMAD yesterday. Fusion was ok but I thought 2 of the others (both barrel strength peated versions) were better. All participants did vote for what they thought was the 3 best bottles afterwards. All bottles got votes except the Scottish one and everybody was impressed of the Amrut whisky that was aged only 5 years. The climate in the southern India were they distil it is very, very hot in the summer and very hot in the winter. About half of the content are left in the barrel after 5 years.

Leif