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Whisky expert Jim Murray awarded a record-equalling 97.5 marks out of 100 to Suntory\u2019s Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013, hailing it as \u201cnear indescribable genius\u201d in his comments in the forthcoming 2015 World Whisky Bible.<\/p>\n
It is the first time since the guide was first published 12 years ago that the top award has gone to a whisky from Japan. The country\u2019s whiskies were once the butt of jokes but have won a slew of awards and widespread critical acclaim in recent years. To compound the pain felt in the spiritual home of the \u201cwater of life\u201d, this is the first time that not a single Scottish whisky made it into the top five in Murray\u2019s respected guide.<\/p>\n
Second, third and fourth places in this year\u2019s awards went to three bourbons from the US; the prize for best European whisky went to Chapter 14 Not Peated, from the English Whisky Company.<\/p>\n
Murray warned Scottish distilleries that reputations counted for little now that other countries were producing their own world-class whiskies. \u201cWhere were the complex whiskies in the prime of their lives? Where were the blends which offered bewildering layers of depth?\u201d he wrote. \u201cIt is time for a little dose of humility \u2026 to get back to basics. To realise that something is missing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Whisky expert Jim Murray awarded a record-equalling 97.5 marks out of 100 to Suntory\u2019s Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013, hailing it as \u201cnear indescribable genius\u201d in his comments in the forthcoming 2015 World Whisky Bible. It is the first time since the guide was first published 12 years ago that the top award has…<\/p>\n