It’s that time again: the day when Jim Murray reveals his favourite whiskies in the world. The results of his Whisky Bible 2018 have just been announced, and the winner of the top prize hails from the USA:

Jim’s not a man to mince words, with his press release hailing the whiskey’s ‘sheer undiluted beauty’:

‘Nothing could match the astonishing beauty of its surprisingly delicate weight and complexity combined. It was though time stood still in the tasting room; I just knew…’

The Colonel EH Taylor Four Grain is the latest in the Buffalo-Trace-made line of small batch releases, drawing inspiration from Colonel Taylor’s time as a grain trader during the American Civil war. It’s made using a mashbill of corn, rye, wheat and malted barley – the four grains of the name – and has been picking up great reviews since it launched in April 2017.

Producer’s Tasting Notes:

Opens with an inviting aroma, with the first sip bringing a lot of character. Caramel notes are touched by sweet vanilla and caramel corn, then underwritten by slightly smoky flavors and oak tannins. It maintains a smooth evenness between the four grains interacting with the charred oak barrel. Overall, a nice balance, and unique.

Jim’s second and third favourite whiskies are better known to followers of The Whisky Bible: Redbreast 21 and Glen Grant 18. The Redbreast has been at the top of Jim’s Irish Whiskey awards since it arrived on the scene a few years back, and Glen Grant 18 was Jim’s second place whisky last year. Both are worthy winners and more readily available than the EH Taylor.

Tasting notes by Stuart Peskett, The Whisky Exchange:



Nose: Rather closed and restrained; takes time to unravel. Tightly knit malt, lots of spiciness lurking underneath.

Palate: Mint and menthol appear from nowhere, along with a big, rich spiciness, and suddenly you realise the complexity you’re dealing with: cinnamon and clove, apple, mango, biscuit, oats, white pepper, but all well defined and distinct.

Finish: Very long lasting, with the spices and fruit all lingering. This needs time to contemplate.

Producer’s Tasting Notes:

Nose: Rich and floral with oaky overtones and hints of baking spices

Palate: Malty caramel, delicate, dried raisins and vanilla

Finish: Long, sweet with hints of nuts and spice

You can order Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2018 and find all the category winners both below and over in our Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2018 page on The Whisky Exchange website.

The Full Winners List

2018 World Whisky of the Year

Colonel E.H. Taylor 4 Grain Bourbon

Second Finest Whisky in the World

Redbreast Aged 21 Years

Third Finest Whisky in the World

Glen Grant Aged 18 Years

Scotch Whisky

Scotch Whisky of the Year

Glen Grant Aged 18 Years Rare Edition

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks)

Glen Grant Aged 18 Years Rare Edition

Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask)

Cadenhead’s Glendullan 20 Year Old

Scotch Blend of the Year

Compass Box The Double Single

Scotch Grain of the Year

Cambus Aged 40 Years

Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year

Compass Box 3 Year Old Deluxe

Single Malt Scotch Whisky

No Age Statement (Multiple Casks)

Ardbeg Corryvreckan

10 Years & Under (Multiple Casks)

Glen Grant Aged 10 Years

10 Years & Under (Single Cask)

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Tomatin Cask 11.32 8 Year Old

11-15 Years (Multiple Casks)

Gordon & MacPhail Ardmore 2002

11-15 Years (Single Cask)

That Boutique-y Co. Clynelish 15 Year Old

16-21 Years (Multiple Casks)

Glen Grant Aged 18 Years Rare Edition

16-21 Years (Single Cask)

The First Editions Ardmore Aged 20 Years

22-27 Years (Multiple Casks)

Sansibar Whisky Glen Moray 25 Years Old

22-27 Years (Single Cask)

Hunter Laing’s Old & Rare Auchentoshan 24 Year Old

28-34 Years (Multiple Casks)

Glen Castle Aged 28 Years

28-34 Years (Single Cask)

Old Particular Glenturret 28 Year Old

35-40 Years (Multiple Casks)

Brora Aged 38 Years

35-40 Years (Single Cask)

Xtra Old Particular Caol Ila 36 Year Old

41 Years & Over (Multiple Casks)

Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1957

Blended Scotch

No Age Statement (Standard)

Ballantine’s Finest

No Age Statement (Premium)

Compass Box The Double Single

5-12 Years

Grant’s Aged 12 Years

13-18 Years

Ballantine’s Aged 17 Years

19 – 25 Years

Royal Salute 21 Years Old

26 – 50 Years

The Antiquary Aged 35 Years

Irish Whiskey

Irish Whiskey of the Year

Redbreast Aged 21 Years

Irish Pot Still Whiskey of the Year

Redbreast Aged 21 Years

Irish Single Malt of the Year

Bushmills 16 Year Old

Irish Blend of the Year

Bushmills Black Bush

Irish Single Cask of the Year

Dunville’s VR First Edition Aged 15 Years

American Whiskey

Bourbon of the Year

Colonel E.H. Taylor Four Grain

Rye of the Year

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac 126.2 Proof

US Micro Whisky of the Year

Balcone’s Texas Blue Corn Batch BCB 16-1

US Micro Whisky of the Year (Runner Up)

291 E Colorado Aged 333 Days Bourbon

No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels)

George T. Stagg 144.1 Proof

9 Years & Under

Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Organic 6 Grain Whisky

10 Years & Over (Multiple Barrels)

Colonel E.H. Taylor Four Grain

Rye

No Age Statement

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac 126.2 Proof

Up to 10 Years

Pikesville 110 Proof

11 Years & Over

Sazerac 18 Years 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

Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Barrels)

Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

European Whisky

European Whisky of the Year (Multiple)

Penderyn Bryn Terfel (Wales)

European Whisky of the Year (Single)

The Norfolk Parched (England)

World Whisky

Asian Whisky of the Year

Paul John Kanya (India)

Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year

Limeburner’s Dark Winter (Australia)