Champion brown spirits arbiter Jim Murray has published the 2011 edition of his Whisky Bible, in which he rates over four thousand brands. And frankly, we’re a little pissed off.  Top honors—the title of # 1 Whisky in The World—went to Ballantine’s 17 Years Old, our longtime favorite blended scotch. Honeyed, nutty, slightly smoky, and totally under the radar (at least in the States).  Until now.  Thanks, Murray.  Our $80 baby is now headed the way of $225 Johnnie Walker Blue. (Murray’s second and third place picks, Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye and William Larue Weller, will be sending us back to the liquor store posthaste.)

[via Luxist]