PR85614

NORTHAMPTON, England, Sept. 16, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

- Jim Murray's Whisky Bible hails "rampantly beautiful" Canadian champion.

- US knocked off World Whisky of the Year top spot for first time in five

years.

- India returns to podium with "near-perfect" offering.

A Canadian rye whisky which draws its water from the Rocky Mountains has been

declared the summit of all the world's whiskies.

Whisky guru Jim Murray has given "totally world class" status to Alberta

Premium Cask Strength in his Whisky Bible 2021, naming it World Whisky of the

Year – the first time it has won the coveted top prize.

Made from a mix of malted and unmalted rye, Alberta Premium Cask Strength

weighs in at a massive 65.1% abv and scores 97.5 marks out of a 100.

The last time a Canadian won World Whisky of the Year in Jim Murray's Whisky

Bible police in Toronto were called as drinkers fought over the last bottles

still on the shelf.

After sweeping the board in 2020 with a unique 1-2-3, Kentucky distiller the

Sazerac Company has to settle for the runner-up spot in 2021 with the

"mind-blowing" Stagg Jr Barrel Proof, another bourbon out of the Buffalo Trace

stable, boasting a finish of "cocoa, dark liquorice and so much toastiness".

But the most eye-catching podium entry of all is Mithuna, from the Paul John

distillery in the tiny Indian state of Goa - the first time a South Asian

whisky has taken a top three gong in more than a decade.

Jim Murray says sampling its sensational chocolate-and-spices complexity is:

"Like after you have just made love...and you are unable to speak or move while

your senses get back into some kind of normality".

The renowned and influential whisky writer tasted 1,252 new drams for the 2021

edition of the Whisky Bible.

Speyside classic Glen Grant takes Scotch Whisky of the Year for its Aged 15

Years Batch Strength 1st Edition with Jim Murray praising the Moray

distillery's "extraordinary and unique charm".

Other sectional winners include: Ballantine's 30 Year Old (Blended Scotch);

Annandale (Scotch 10 Years & Under); Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy (Irish);

Thomas H Handy Sazerac (American Rye); Nikka Whisky Single Malt Yoichi Apple

Brandy Wood Finish (Japanese); PUNI Aura Italian Single Malt (European).

Editor's Notes

Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021 contains tasting notes for around 4,500 drams.

Available from 16/9/20 at whiskybible.com, priced £14.99.

Press enquiries: Vincent Flint-Hill +44 (0)117 317 9777; vincent@whiskybible.com

Source: Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021