It’s that time of the year where we find out what Jim Murray (English writer and journalist. He is best known for his observations on whisky and his annually updated book on the subject, Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible) has decided his favourite or most flavoursome and memorable whiskies were for the year.

For Australian whisky lovers it’s worth noting that we have managed to gain another prestigious award in the Whisky Bible. Our very own Limeburners distillery has taken out the award for Best Whisky In The Southern Hemisphere with their Darkest Winter.

Limeburners Darkest Winter Single Malt Whisky uses peat collected by hand from the deepest darkest parts of the Valley of the Giants. The barley was smoked for an extended period, resulting in a heavier, more intense style of whisky ideally suited for darkest winter. This whisky was matured in an ex-bourbon American Oak cask. This whisky exhibits spice and floral aromas when neat and a splash of water unleashes malted barley and intense complex smokey aromas.

Darkest Winter was recently awarded the award for World’s Best Craft Whisky 2017.

It has been a great year for the Limeburners Distillery in regards to awards both locally and internationally. Check out their range here

Top three picks in the Whisky Bible this year were;

• 2018 World Whisky Of The Year – Colonel EH Taylor Four Grain Bourbon
• Second Finest Whisky In The World – Redbreast 21 Years Old
• Third Finest Whisky In The World – Glen Grant 18 Years Old

Here’s a list of his winners in full, by category.

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 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 Whisky Co. Clynelish 15 year Old
16-21 Years (Multiple Casks): Glen Grant Aged 18 years Rare Edition
16-21 Years (Single Cask): The First Edition 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: Balcones 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

Japanese Whisky

Japanese Whisky of the Year: Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky
Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Barrels): Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

Wheat

Wheat Whiskey of the Year: Bernheim Original

Canadian Whisky

Canadian Whisky of the Year: Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye

European Whisky

European Whisky of the Year (Multiple Barrels): Penderyn Bryn Terfel (Wales)
European Whisky of the year (Single Barrel): The Norfolk Parched (England)

World Whiskies

Asian Whisky of the Year: Paul John Kanya (India)
Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year: Limeburner’s Dark Winter (Australia)

Grab a bottle before they all quickly disappear.