Jim Murray knows how to surprise. Two years ago, he named Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 as his World Whisky of the Year, while last year saw that honour go to Canada, with Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye taking the top gong. And now, the 2017 winner has just been announced. Jim Murray’s best whisky in the world is: Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old. Jim described it as having a ‘brain-draining, mind-blowing’ nose with a finish of ‘amazing depth’, adding that it is a ‘staggering example of a magnificent rye showing exactly what genius in terms of whiskey actually means’, scoring it 97.5/100 points.

Producer’s Tasting Notes

An intense flavour profile with pronounced, well-balanced notes of wood and oak from the longer ageing process. The deep amber liquid offers a complex aroma with spicy notes from the rye in the mash bill. This uncut rye has a big bold flavour, but is not overpowering. It can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks.

The other big news of the 2017 Whisky Bible is that a Scottish whisky has made Jim’s World Whiskies of the Year shortlist for the first time since 2014. The runner-up is Glen Grant 18 Year Old – here is the top three:

JIM MURRAY’S 2017 WORLD WHISKIES OF THE YEAR

1. Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old

2. Glen Grant 18 Year Old

3. William Larue Weller Bourbon (Bot.2015)

The full winners list

Scotch Whisky

Scotch Whisky of the Year

Glen Grant 18 Year Old

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks)

Glen Grant 18 Year Old

Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask)

That Boutique-y Whisky Co Macallan 25 Year Old Batch 5

Scotch Blend of the Year

The Last Drop 1971

Scotch Grain of the Year

Whiskyjace Invergordon 24 Year Old

Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year

Compass Box Flaming Heart 2015 Edition

Single Malt Scotch

No Age Statement (Multiple Casks)

Glenlivet Cipher

No Age Statement (Runner Up)

Port Askaig 100 Proof

10 Years & Under (Multiple Casks)

Glen Grant 10 Year Old

10 Years & Under (Single Cask)

Kilchoman Guze Cask Finish

11-15 Years (Multiple Casks)

Lagavulin 12 Year Old

11-15 Years (Single Cask)

The Single Cask Glentauchers 2002 14 Year Old

16-21 Years (Multiple Casks)

Glen Grant 18 Year Old

16-21 Years (Single Cask)

Scyfion Choice Mortlach 1996 19 Year Old (Berry Bros & Rudd)

22-27 Years (Multiple Casks)

Dalwhinnie 1989 25 Year Old Special Releases 2015

22-27 Years (Single Cask)

The Boutique-y Co Macallan 25 Year Old Batch 5

28-34 Years (Multiple Casks)

Port Ellen 1983 32 Year Old Special Releases 2015

28-34 Years (Single Cask)

Cadenhead Caol Ila 31 Year Old

35-40 Years (Multiple Casks)

Brora 37 Year Old Special Releases 2015

35-40 Years (Single Cask)

Cadenhead Glentauchers 38 Year Old

41 Years & Over (Multiple Casks)

Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1952

41 Years & Over (Single Cask)

Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1950 65 Year Old

Blended Scotch

No Age Statement (Standard)

Ballantine’s Finest

No Age Statement (Premium)

Ballantine’s Limited

5-12 Years

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old

13-18 Years

Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak

19 – 25 Years

Royal Salute 21 Year Old

26 – 50 Years

The Last Drop 1971

IRISH WHISKEY

Irish Whiskey of the Year

Redbreast 21 Year Old

Irish Pot Still Whiskey of the Year

Redbreast 21 Year Old

Irish Single Malt of the Year

Bushmills 21 Year Old

Irish Blend of the Year

Jameson

Irish Single Cask of the Year

Teeling Single White Burgundy Cask 2004

AMERICAN WHISKEY

Bourbon of the Year

William Larue Weller 2015 Release

Rye of the Year

Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old

US Micro Whisky of the Year

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2009

US Micro Whisky of the Year (Runner Up)

Koval Four Grain

Bourbon

No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels)

William Larue Weller 2015 Release

No Age Statement (Single Barrel)

1792 Single Barrrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

9 Years & Under

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2009

10 Years & Over (Multiple Barrels)

Blade & Bow 22 Year Old

Rye

No Age Statement

Thomas H Handy 2015 Release

Up to 10 Years

Pikesville 110 Proof 6 Year Old Straight Rye

11 Years & Over

Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old

Wheat

Wheat Whiskey of the Year

Bernheim Original

CANADIAN WHISKY

Canadian Whisky of the Year

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

JAPANESE WHISKY

Japanese Whisky of the Year

Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 Release

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Barrels)

Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 Release

EUROPEAN WHISKY

European Whisky of the Year (Multiple)

English Whisky Co. Chapter 14 Not Peated

European Whisky of the Year (Single)

Langatun 6 year Old Pinot Noir Cask

WORLD WHISKIES

Asian Whisky of the Year

Kavalan Solist Moscatel

Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year

Heartwood Any Port in a Storm