Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2006

[Vange]

Yes, I was referring to EW12 which is not found in the US and export only.

He rates it as his #2 bourbon.

[Str8RYE]

Vange, you really put that much faith in ratings??? Jim Murray doesn't have anything nice to say about Pappy 20, but I have read over and over that its your favorite. Doesn't this say someting about what JM's rating may mean to your taste's.

[Vange]

Yeah, it's true, I saw his PVW20 rating and almost threw the book out! It's rated below JBW? He's nuts! With that said, I am more curious about EW12 than anything else. I probably will never get my hands on it so it's more of a wishlist item than anything else.

[doubleblank]

I can't find the thread, but I made numerous posts regarding how I found the tastes Jim Murray found, but my appreciation/dislike of them were far apart on many bourbons. IOW, I didn't find his scores on bourbon very helpful but his notes are....if that makes sense?

As to EW12.....I like it alot but find the EW 15 to be far better. I may have an extra EW12 here in the bunker somewhere.

Randy

[TNbourbon]

...As to EW12.....I like it alot but find the EW 15 to be far better...

I'll second that -- The EWs 12- and 15-yo are natural progressions of the Evan Williams line, but it reaches its apogee with the 15yo. At that point the wood has balanced the HH herbal mintiness to perfection without overwhelming it. It's the best Heaven Hill bourbon I've had.

[JRomain]

Just got a copy of Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2006. As usual, some interesting reading.

In the past, I’ve found myself to be in general agreement with Murray but some of his recent ratings give me pause. Is Jim Beam White (85) really better than PVW 20 (79!) or Van Winkle 12 yr Lot B (80)? Or is Old Bardstown 10 yr Estate Bottled (95) that better than ETL Single Barrel (88)? I beg to differ.

Why do so many people think that just because something is older, it must be better? Pappy Van Winkle 20 ain't all that. The 12 sure is, though.

[scopenut]

Why do so many people think that just because something is older, it must be better? Pappy Van Winkle 20 ain't all that. The 12 sure is, though.

While I prefer PVW15 to the 20, I think it's safe to say that PVW20 is certainly better to most bourbon drinkers than Beam White.

-Kevin

[nor02lei]

Why do so many people think that just because something is older, it must be better? Pappy Van Winkle 20 ain't all that. T

I certainly don’t think older is better in general. But when it comes to the Pappy 20 I think al row the “best before date†has passed according to my personal taste proof is a bigger problem still.

Leif

[FlashPuppy]

Pappy Van Winkle 20 ain't all that.

Tact goes a long way there buddy. I think that I might find a different way to state your feelings on PVW20. Perhaps say that you feel it is aged beyond your tastes, or not what you consider a value. Seeing as Julian (Julian VanWinkle, the guy who's signature is on the back of that bottle), and many other signifigant people in the industry, are on this site, I might watch how I phrase things...

[mrt]

This thread-from the beginning- which I newly read, made me remember a claim which caught my attention while I was watching the video of bourbon festival: "There's no bad bourbon...there are better bourbons."

For my part and with my little experience, given that I do not have access to many of the top shelf bourbons, I completely agree. If a grade of 85 out of 100 is at issue even for a debate, that's it.

[nor02lei]

Tact goes a long way there buddy. I think that I might find a different way to state your feelings on PVW20. Perhaps say that you feel it is aged beyond your tastes, or not what you consider a value. Seeing as Julian (Julian VanWinkle, the guy who's signature is on the back of that bottle), and many other signifigant people in the industry, are on this site, I might watch how I phrase things...

Jeremy,

I would say that all judgement of different brands made by members here on the forum are from their highly personal taste. If everybody should write that down in all posts it would be rather tedious after a wile. For myself I take this as obvious in every post and I think everybody should be entitled to have his or her personal opinion. That is one of the most interesting things for me anyway on this forum. To read about other bourbon freaks personal opinions straight from their hearts.

Leif