Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 An essential purchase for those venturing into the world of whisky June 17, 2008
Thanks to this book, I've indulged in quite a few Scottish Single Malts that I may not have considered otherwise. Jim Murray has an idiosyncratic writing style and some of the metaphors he uses to describe the nose of a whisky beggar belief (especially if you have a rather senseless nose like mine!). However there is no doubting that his knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject is faultless and, other than heavily sherried malts, I've personally found that the whiskies he has scored 85+ have been completely to my taste. Having tried and enjoyed a Japanese Single Malt Jim Murray rated highly, I'm looking to trying one or two of the bourbons which he scores so favourably. Indeed, I sampled one at a food show and am kicking myself for not buying a bottle! The same goes for a Scottish Vatted Grain Whisky I may never have tasted but for this book. Despite some of his tasting notes shooting way above my head (or nose more to the point), I feel I can buy with confidence using the Whisky Bible. It will be an annual purchase from now on.
 Good buy May 23, 2008
Credits it's name with a simple list of thousands of whiskies. And not just Scottish Malts but pretty much everything - even Belgium whisky...
Every whisky is given a rating based on Nose, Taste, Finish and Balance accompanied with a bit of text. Subjective obviously, but that never stopped any "critic".
A good buy for anyone interested in whisky and wanting to discover more.
Invaluable October 24, 2006
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is a must have guide if anyone is to embark on a journey into whisky. The tasteing notes are of course personal but informative and on a occasion very entertaining! This is an almanac of whisky and covers both the everyday, the special and the very rare whisky types. If you love whisky you'll love this book.
A reference guide July 6, 2005
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I don't really consider it as a book, but more as a reference book, since nothing (or about ) is written about whisky production , history and so on.
It is only a summary of jim Murray's personal tasting notes.
Since the choices of whiskies in a shop can be so huge, this book is very good at helping to make your choice and it is conveniently sized for your pocket!
Nothing short of sensational January 13, 2005
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Whether you have little more than a passing interest in whisky or your home is a shrine to malts and blends, you simply *must* buy this book -- especially at this price. I commend this title to you not merely for the mellifluous and highly entertaining nature of Murray's prose and his poetic use of metaphor (anyone who describes the nose of a whisky as reminiscent of a warm-running model train has to be touched by a certain genius) but, quite simply, because the author's judgements are (in my opinion, at least) bang on.I've enjoyed and been enlightened by this slim volume in equal measure, and admire the zeal of Murray's commitment to getting distilleries to lay off the caramel, as well as his salutory reminder that there are some sensational blends out there that rival the very best of malts in every department. The nose/taste/finish/balance descriptions really do help you to distinguish the different stages of savouring a whisky -- this isn't pretension, its education! Do your palate a favour, and buy without hesitation.
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