LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Two whiskeys produced by the Sazerac Company, Stagg Jr. (128.4 proof) and Paul John Mithuna, have been named the second and third finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, by esteemed whisky reviewer Jim Murray in his “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2021.”
In total, nine whiskeys from Sazerac received top honors in their category, including eight produced at its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Ky.
These awards follow a momentous win last year in which three whiskeys from Sazerac were named the top three whiskeys in the world in “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2020,” the first time any one company has accomplished this feat.
The 2021 second finest whiskey in the world, Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Stagg Jr., was first introduced in 2013 and has won countless double gold, gold and various other accolades, but has never placed in the top three in the prestigious “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible.”
Its forefather however, George T. Stagg, is well known to Whiskey Bible fans, having been named the finest or second finest whiskey in the world a staggering four times since the Whiskey Bible started in 2004, holding the top spot more times than any other spirit in the world.
In describing the Stagg Jr. second finest whiskey in the world, and bourbon of the year for 2021, Jim Murray scored it a 97.5 and called it “Spectacularly mind-blowing!” Murray tastes more than 4,700 whiskies for his yearly edition, and in Murray’s ranking system, any whiskey which scores in the 94-97.5 range is deemed by him as “superstar whiskies that give us all a reason to live.”
Sazerac’s third finest whiskey of the world comes from India, at its Paul John Distillery and is Mithuna, which scored a 97. Mithuna is part of Paul John’s Zodiac series. Mithuna will be released worldwide at the end of 2020, and will be available in the United States in Spring 2021. Mithuna’s predecessor in the Zodiac series is Kanya, which was named Asian Whiskey of the Year in the 2018 edition of “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible” with a score of 96.
In describing Mithuna for his 2021 Whiskey Bible, Murray says, “If Mithuna means ultimate, then it is the perfect name. Or maybe Mithuna means perfect, then it is pretty close. It is that very rarest of things. And, if nothing else, announces Paul John Distillery on the world stage of truly great distilleries. This is a whisky to devour…while it devours you.”
“To have our whiskeys be named the second and third finest whiskeys in the world is astonishing, especially following last year’s three top spots in the Whiskey Bible,” said Mark Brown, president and chief executive officer, Sazerac Company. “It is truly a testament of the skill and dedication of not only our Master Distillers Harlen Wheatley at Buffalo Trace Distillery, and Michael D’souza at Paul John Distillery, but to all of our team members at Sazerac. We could not be happier and motivated to continue our quest to create the world’s best whiskey.”
The complete Sazerac whiskeys winning awards in “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2021” are:
• Second Finest Whisky in the World – Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (128.4 proof)
• Third Finest Whisky in the World – Paul John Mithuna
AMERICAN WHISKEY WINNERS
Bourbon of the Year – Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (128.4 proof)
Second Finest Bourbon of the Year – William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bourbon No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels) Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (128.4 proof)
Bourbon No Age Statement (Single Barrel) – Elmer T. Lee 100 Year Tribute Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Rye of the Year – Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Rye No Age Statement – Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Rye 11-15 Years – Old Rip Van Winkle Family Reserve 13 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
Rye Over 15 Years – Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
ASIAN WHISKY OF THE YEAR
Paul John Mithuna
Jim Murray is a legend and leading player on the world’s whisky stage. It is now over 25 years since he became the world’s first-ever full time whisky writer. The 2021 edition of his Whisky Bible marks the 18th year of annual publication. “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2021” can be pre-ordered at http://whiskybible.com/.
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