Excitement builds every year about the big winners in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. Last year, Jim chose Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 as his 2015 World Whisky of the Year, which had an astonishing effect on demand for this now-rare bottle – and boosted the fortunes of the entire Japanese whisky category overnight.

So, who is this year’s winner? For the first time, it’s from Canada: Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye. Jim scored it 97.5pts/100: ‘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,’ he said. ‘To say this is a masterpiece is barely doing it justice.’

Producer’s Tasting Notes:

Nose: Baking spices, cereal, light wood spices.

Palate: Gentle oak note, rich butterscotch, spiced vanilla, develops into soft peppery notes.

Finish: Smooth and creamy.

Jim has increased his World Whiskies of the Year to five, as opposed to his normal three, accompanied by his choice of Single Cask of the Year. Here are the winners:

Jim Murray’s 2016 World Whiskies of the Year

1. Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

2. Pikesville Straight Rye

3. Midleton Dair Ghaelach

4. William Larue Weller Bourbon (Bot.2014)

5. Suntory Yamazaki Mizunara (Bot.2014)

SINGLE CASK OF THE YEAR

Glenfarclas The Family Casks 1957 #2110

This year – just like last year – there are no Scotch whiskies in Jim’s list. And Midleton Dair Ghaelach’s achievement is the first time that an Irish whiskey has finished in the top three.

Jim said: ‘Last year people were shocked when I gave 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 come 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.’

You can sign up to be notified when the 2016 edition of The Whisky Bible becomes available here.

The Winners

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 Denny Cambus 1987 25yo #9320

Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year

Compass Box The Lost Blend

Single Malt Scotch

No Age Statement (Multiple Casks)

Ardbeg 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 2000

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 Chwec’hved 14 BC

WORLD WHISKIES

Asian Whisky of the Year

Amrut Greedy Angels 10yo

Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year

Heartwood The Good Convict