The Scots are renowned for their whisky but, for the second year in a row, whisky from another country has been named the best in the world.

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye, a Canadian malt whisky, was awarded 97.5 marks out of 100 in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, earning it the title of world whisky of the year.

Despite its stellar reputation in the whisky world, not a single Scottish whisky made the top five.

Jim Murray's 2016 World Whiskies of the Year

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye (Canada) - £47 a bottle Pikesville Straight Rye (USA) - £33 a bottle Midleton Dair Ghaelach (Ireland) - £180 a bottle William Larue Weller Bourbon (Bot.2014) (USA) - £65 a bottle Suntory Yamazaki Mizunara (Bot.2014) (Japan) - £45 a bottle

Editor of Scotchwhisky.com Becky Paskin said: "While it's disappointing that Scotch has been omitted from Murray's top five again, it's heartening to see that he's included a real mix of whiskies from around the world that aren't all selected from the luxury sphere.

"The absence of Scotch, however puzzling, has no bearing at all on the quality of whisky coming from Scotland. Interest in world whisky is increasing and and drinkers are likely to want to experiment with the medley of styles and flavours available.

Warning! Be prepared for massive fallout, Canada beat Scotland for Worlds best Whisky 2016, there could be violence here. — Fred O'Neill (@oneill_f) November 20, 2015

"It's important to remember that, whether you agree with Murray's top five or not, this is just one man's opinion. My advice would be to go out and taste these whiskies for yourself."

Despite not winning the coveted whisky of the year award, Scotland's Glenfarclas 1957 Family Cask 2110 did win the single cask of the year award.

Whisky expert Murray tasted more than 1000 whiskies before deciding on the Crown Royal and called it a masterpiece: "Rye, that most eloquent of grains, not just turning up to charm and enthral but to also take us through a routine which reaches new heights of beauty and complexity.

"To say this is a masterpiece is barely doing it justice."

The winning whisky

Tom Sandham, one half of the Thinking Drinkers, said: "The news of a Canadian winner might surprise some, but it shouldn't.

"The country has extraordinary whisky heritage. And rye is one of the original grains in North American whiskey production, it has long been re-asserting itself with connoisseurs and leading bartenders who use it in classic cocktails. So to see it break through here is evidence of the grains's resurgent popularity.

"But remember this is only one view, and a nice bit of publicity for man, brand and whisky as a whole, but the only way you'll determine what you like is if you try things. Lots of different things. The great thing about whisky is that a wider demographic is now engaging, which is excellent because there are hundreds of stunning whiskies being made all around the world right now."

Yvonne Briese, Vice President of Crown Royal said: "Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye showcases the rye whisky that has been such an integral component of the Crown Royal Deluxe blend since 1939. This is a testament to the unbelievable blending and distilling that’s been taking place in Gimli for over 75 years.

"We are thrilled that Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye has been named World Whisky of the Year."

Last years winner, Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 Credit: Thomas Peter/Reuters

Some whisky connoisseurs were sceptical of the win, with specialist whisky author Charles MacLean telling The Times the success of foreign winners was a marketing ploy: "You should compare like with like. These whiskies from around the world are all made to be different. Canadian whisky allows for all sorts of additives, such as prune juice to sweeten it.

"This is forbidden in Scotch, which has strictly defined terms of how it can be made. It must have the flavour derived only from the raw materials: barley, water and yeast. Nothing may be added."

However, Murray defended his choice robustly: "Last year people were shocked when I gave [Japanese whisky] Yamazaki the award - until they tasted it. Then they saw it was not the affront to Scotch they first thought and something truly extraordinary.

"This year, doubtless there will be many more eyebrows raised because rarely is Canada mentioned when it comes to the world's top whiskies. But, again, I have no doubt people finding the bottling I tasted will be blown away with this whisky's uncompromising and unique beauty. It certainly puts the rye into Canadian rye."

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The winners in full

SCOTCH

Scotch Whisky of the Year - Glenfarclas 1957 Family Casks #2110

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks) - Glen Grant 10yo

Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask) - Glenfarclas 1957 Family Casks #2110

Scotch Blend of the Year - The Last Drop 50yo

Scotch Grain of the Year - Clan Deny Cambus 1987 25yo #9320

Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year - Compass Box The Lost Blend

SINGLE MALT SCOTCH

No Age Statement (Multiple Casks) - Ardberg Supernova 2009

No Age Statement (Runner Up) - Laphroaig An Cuan Mor

10 Years & Under (Multiple Casks) - Glen Grant 10yo

10 Years & Under (Single Cask) - Saar Gruwehewwel

11-15 Years (Multiple Casks) - Gordon and MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Strathmill 2002

11-15 Years (Single Cask) - SMWS 4.199 (Highland Park 1999)

16-21 Years (Multiple Casks) - Old Pulteney 21yo

16-21 Years (Single Cask) - Old Malt Cask Highland Park 1998

22-27 Years (Multiple Casks) - Glen Moray Port Cask Finish

22-27 Years (Single Cask) - Wemyss Kirsch Gateau (Bunnahabhain)

28-34 Years (Multiple Casks) - Tomatin 1988 25yo Batch 2

28-34 Years (Single Cask) - Glenfarclas 1985 Family Casks #2593

35-40 Years (Multiple Casks) - Tomatin 36yo Rare Casks Batch 1

35-40 Years (Single Cask) - BenRiach 1977 Batch 11

41 Years & Over (Multiple Casks) - Ledaig 42 Years Old

41 Years & Over (Single Cask) - Glenfarclas 1957 Family Casks #2110

BLENDED SCOTCH

No Age Statement (Standard) - Ballantine’s Finest

No Age Statement (Premium) - Ballantine’s Limited

5-12 Years - Johnie Walker Black Label

13-18 Years - Ballantine’s 17

19 – 25 Years - Royal Salute 21

26 – 50 Years - The Last Drop 50 Years Old Sherry Wood

IRISH WHISKEY

Irish Whiskey of the Year - Midleton Dair Ghaelach

Irish Pot Still Whiskey of the Year - Midleton Dair Ghaelach

Irish Single Malt of the Year - SMWS 118.3

Irish Blend of the Year - Powers Gold Label

AMERICAN WHISKEY

Bourbon of the Year - William Larue Weller 2014

Rye of the Year - Pikesville Rye 110 Proof

US Micro Whisky of the Year - Notch 12

US Micro Whisky of the Year (Runner Up) - McCarthy’s Batch U14-01

BOURBON

No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels) - William Larue Weller 2014

No Age Statement (Single Barrel) - Buffalo Trace Single Oak Project Barrel 20

9 Years & Under - Booker’s Bourbon 63.95%

10-17 Years (Multiple Barrels) - Eagle Rare 17yo 2014

RYE

No Age Statement - Thomas H Handy

Up to 10 Years - Pikesville Straight Rye 110 Proof

11 Years & Over - Sazerac 18yo 2014

WHEAT

Wheat Whiskey of the Year - Parker’s Heritage 13yo / Release 8

CANADIAN WHISKY

Canadian Whisky of the Year - Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

JAPANESE WHISKY

Japanese Whisky of the Year - Yamazaki Mizunara 2014 (Japan only)

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Barrels) - Yamazaki Mizunara 2014 (Japan only)

Single Malt of the Year (Single Barrel) - SMWS 119.14

EUROPEAN WHISKY

European Whisky of the Year (Multiple) - English Whisky Co. Chapter 16 / Peated Sherry Cask

European Whisky of the Year (Single) - Kornog Taouarc’h Chweec’hved 14 BC

WORLD WHISKIES

Asian Whisky of the Year - Amrut Greedy Angels 10yo

Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year - Heartwood The Good Convict