The 2007 edition of the Whisky Bible, the world's bestselling and most influential whisky guide, was launched during a book-signing session by author and whisky connoisseur Jim Murray in Malta on Friday morning at M. Demajo Wines & Spirits Ltd's shop Est Est Est in Sliema.
Mr Murray tasted his way through over 1,000 brand new whiskies in the last seven months, in addition to re-tasting almost 300 more for the 2007 edition. Murray visited his first distillery in 1975, and has been writing about whisky ever since. Never afraid to speak his mind, his books have sold in their hundreds of thousands in various languages but he famously refuses to write for magazines where he believes his honest and fearlessly relentless style might be compromised.
Despite tasting over 800 brand new single malts - many at cask strength - it was a type of whisky often claimed to be of inferior quality, a blend, which impressed him most. The Old Parr was awarded 97 points out of 100, equalling the highest-ever score in the Whisky Bible's history.
Another Diageo blend, White Horse 12 Years Old, also picked up the Scotch Blended Whisky of the Year (eight to 12 years). Among the other major Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2007 awards were: Scotch Single Malt of the Year - Brora 30-years-old Fourth Release; Bourbon of the Year - Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Twice Barrelled; and the Standard Blend of the Year - William Grant.
Some of this year's more controversial and notable Whisky Bible 2007 awards feature Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year - Compass Box Spice Tree (2nd Bottling) which has been outlawed by the Scotch whisky industry for using oak staves within the barrel to generate extra flavour and colour.
Mr Murray said: "I recognise it as a legitimate whisky, simple as that. The Scotch Whisky Association allow caramel to colour and flavour whisky and the use of sherry butts ruined with sulphur sticks. But they don't allow the use of extra oak. Maybe it's just me who is going mad here. When they ban caramel, as they should, then I'll think twice about Spice Tree being a true whisky."
Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2007 is published by Dram Good Books (ISBN 0-9554729-0-3) and Carlton (ISBN 1-84442-147-3) (360 pages).