Column: Are We Missing the Whisky Bible 2025?

You might have already noticed: Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2025 has yet to see the light of day. This extensive whisky guide usually graces us just in time for the new year, but there's no sign of Jim Murray's latest tipple-tome thus far.

Roughly a year ago, a post on Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible's Instagram account indicated that Jim was ready for another round of tasting. With five whisky glasses and the Whisky Bible 2024 spread out on his table, our spirited scribe was primed for action.

Yet, still, there's no sign of the much-anticipated book. What's going on?

Typically, Jim Murray's Whisky Bible debuts well before the start of the new year. However, this year seems to be shaping up differently.

On a Black Friday post featuring Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, questions have been piling up. One of the responses on a post sparks concern.

Someone mentioned hearing that Murray is ill. This could indeed account for the delay of his book. Oddly enough, both the Facebook and Instagram account went silent after last year, posting nothing further concerning either Jim Murray or the Whisky Bible.

This radio silence aligns with the comment about Jim Murray not doing well, yet this claim remains unconfirmed. The internet is eerily quiet regarding both Jim Murray and his book.

What internet has to offer only stirs up more questions. The Daily Mail reports that Jim Murray made rather risqué comments in one of his Whisky Bible editions, comparing whiskies to sensual scenarios–remarks that weren’t well received by everyone.

I'm referring to the 2021 edition of the Whisky Bible, not the latest book. That edition drove whisky author and founder of OurWhisky, Becky Paskin, to dub him the 'Donald Trump of the whisky world.'

Among other things, she urged distilleries to stop promoting the book. And they obliged. Glenfiddich and Beam Suntory, among others, distanced themselves briskly from the author and his remarks.

Although a few more editions of the Whisky Bible were released after this incident, I can't help but wonder if this might have something to do with the current situation. Has he been canceled, for the time being?

My investigation persisted. Even on the official website, there's no sign of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2025. The latest book on there is the 2024 edition, and there's no word on the health of this 67-year old Englishman.

I've tried reaching out to the publisher of this renowned whisky book to find out what's going on. As of yet, they've not responded to my queries. The only thing I got back was a reply of the secretary, informing me that the mail was indeed forwarded to Mr. Murray.

Thus, the question of "where is Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2025?" remains unanswered. In fact, each step of my inquiry only raises more questions.

It seems the Whisky Bible has seen it's last edition in 2024.