How does the world’s leading whisky expert, Jim Murray, drink his whisky?
The Hindu
On a call from the UK, leading whisky expert and author of annual guides called The Whisky Bibles, talks to us about Indian consumers, his tasting regimen and how it all began
Jim Murray holds the title of being the world’s first full-time whisky writer. His annual guides, called The Whisky Bible, are true to their names, a bible for connoisseurs. The guides have reviewed over 20,000 whiskies in the 17 years of publication. This June, Jim visits India on a multi-city tour, hosting a series of blind tasting sessions led by Nikhil Agarwal, founder of All Things Nice. On a call from the UK, Jim shares how he had his first sip of whisky, what he has to say to his critics and when to expect the upcoming Whisky Bible 2025.
“It is freezing here,” says Jim as we connect on videocall. He is at his home in Northamptonshire, England. The place where it all began. “We can go back to when I was about 10. I had an uncle... Uncle George. He was a bit of a rogue. I went around to his house and he poured me a whisky, and he invited me to try it. He was expecting me not to like it. But I was a little like Oliver Twist; I went back to ask for some more. Even at that young age, I felt wow that has got a lot of taste.”
After leaving school, Jim started working as a journalist. He shares anecdotes of covering murders in Scotland, and cricket matches when players like Bishan Bedi represented his town of Northamptonshire in county cricket. “I would be out on story, and I would stay at a hotel. They have such and such whisky on the menu. I would taste it and make notes. I used to taste every whisky that I could find. And I used to make notes.”
After a visit to the Talisker distillery in Isle of Skye, Scotland, he made up his mind. “I realised that my taste buds and nose were unique. I thought, ‘No one writes about whisky. I want to do that.’ In the early ‘90s I made the decision that I wanted to do this.” This year’s Whisky Bible is expected to launch in the first week of October and will be a 2025-2026 combined edition.
Some of the ratings that Jim gives in his Whisky Bibles have drawn criticism. Jim, however, has faith in his tasting regimen and reviews. “When I am working, I eat no garlic, nothing spicy. Just incredibly bland food. You have to be very disciplined. When I am tasting the whiskies, I add no water.”
He agrees that taste is subjective. “Sometimes people say, ‘Jim Murray got this whisky wrong’. But how did you drink it? What temperature did you have it at? Did you add ice? Take a tomato, right? If you eat it out of the fridge, there is literally no smell. Whisky is the same. When it is warm, there is more aroma and more flavour, that is a fact.”
At the upcoming events, Jim tells participants to relax and leave all pre-conceived notions at the door. He abhors snobbery and aims to introduce participants to new ways to experience the spirit. Whiskies being showcased at the events include expressions from Royal Salute, Aberlour, The Glenlivet, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal portfolio and the Indian Single Malt Seagram’s Longitude 77.
