This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Lidl is based out of Neckarsulm, Germany and first came to the United Kingdom in 1994. Currently there is no price history or price compare for the offer Ben Bracken Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky available No, it wouldn’t TC, as the bottler can do what they like, especially if they aren’t naming the distillery. I got a couple of bottles, I’m not sure I like it enough to open the second or to pass it on for someone else to try but I’m really not complaining. There’s a rich colour on display, suggestive that E150 has been added to a sizeable degree, particularly given the omission when it comes to a natural colour statement. It is not stated on the label where the liquid is sourced from and I would not be able to say for sure where I think it is from so I wont. Whisky Merchandise: Turntable Shop: https://shop.spreadshirt.de/whisky-turntable Constant undercurrent of thick,  oily smoke. Particular favourites amongst the online theorists included: 1. I'm not sure if the Ben Bracken whisky comes from the very same distillery as the other one, though there are some similarities. But it could have been much worse and after all this, there’s still the foundation of a good whisky shining through. than I expected. The 8 year old Ben Bracken normally retailed for £18, but it appears that it was being replaced by the new trio of Ben Bracken expressions which were launched for World Whisky Day in 2017. A little like watching Nigella dance her way around the kitchen in her latest television escapade. But I noticed a few differences as well. It’s a 16-year-old single malt whisky from Islay that costs £34.99. Ben Bracken 40 Years . About the right age for the time when a load of these were flying around the Brokers . Most unusual, especially for a 16yr old Islay – wouldn’t you say? With Christmas just around the corner, Lidl has unveiled its new Ben Bracken 16-Year-Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky. A tonic we haven’t had too much of during 2020, but one thing we’ve certainly enjoyed – arguably too much of – is whisk(e)y. It was the launch of the Enigma Duty Free bottling with the then Manager Percy and some of the Marketing team . Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. This Ben Bracken was bottled at 42,1% ABV. Maybe I’m just an experienced onlooker, or someone, who has been around the block more times than necessary and doesn’t want to do it again – I don’t really care what Islay distillery produced this. This is a Laphroaig after the blenders added too much colouring and had to move it on. I bought one of these at my local Lidl store yesterday and was amazed not to see any mention of ‘Peat/Peaty’ or Smoke/Smokey within the tasting notes. Nuttiness with walnuts and caramelised pecans. Due to COVID-19 and falling sales, Diageo sold on some stock of the Lagavulin 16. Ben Bracken 16 Year Old Rare Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky. 3. Bit of time in the glass pays dividends as well. It is generally accepted that the art of distillation came to Scotland via Ireland. Thanks for the review. They all that tanned glow and sadly aren’t as good as they once used to be! I remember the regional co-op bottles and still see them now and again. Despite all of these flaws, there’s no denying that the bottle looks a little more premium than your regular Ben Bracken releases. Press Esc to cancel. Currants. Surprisingly, Aldi didn’t really embrace the format this year, although maybe they’ll have a surprise in store? The price point of £34.99 and the availability of an age statement should remove any need for hot air. Islay is part of the inner Hebrides, a chain of islands off the west coast of Scotland. At present it is home to nine working distilleries, with a tenth currently under construction and at least two more at the planning stage. If you read the back of the tube it comes in it says ‘Mit Farbstoff: Zuckerkulör’ confirming (if you needed it!) Bei den Whisky von Ben Bracken handelt es sich dabei um Single Malt Whisky, während unter der Bezeichnung Glenalba Blended Whiskys erhältlich sind. Wonder if it could be a Peated (Margadale) Bunna ? It's the latest single malt to come from Lidl. Shoe polish, black tea and charcoal once more with liquorice. Otherwise would have left a donation. Created by the experienced hands at Whyte & Mackay, if you can find a bottle, then it’s yours for a miserly £34.99. The result of this was that the old stock was being cleared and I … I’ve snapped up several bottles of the regular Ben Bracken Islay when it went on special at the local Lidl but have never seen this version. As Whyte & Mackay own no Islay distilleries, we can’t turn to a simplistic guess of what it is, so need to do some minor sleuthing. 700 ml: … Doesn’t offer anything particularly unique and the finish is short and rather one dimensional but those looking to sample the trademark spirit character of one of the most magical islands in the world without having to pay a fortune for the privilege, need look no further. Lidl’s Ben Bracken Islay Single Malt is bottled at 40% and retails at £17.49 a bottle. Reviews of affordable whisky with some entertaining tales along the way…. Dark chocolate and oak. Cost: between £16-£20. Bottled at 40% ABV. Your email address will not be published. Bracken, as it happens, is a fern commonly found across much of the Scottish landscape whilst Ben is from the Gaelic Beinn, for Mountain. Jura. Ben Bracken, due to hit the shelves in time for Christmas, will sell for £34.99. Little evidence exists to confirm this hypothesis but if it were to be proved correct, the isle of Islay would be the true birthplace of the spirit that became known as scotch whisky. 6. I suspect these bottlings will not stay on the shelf too long despite our views! A great deal of hot air was expelled and thereby creating the whisky fake news phenomenon. Alternatively, you can make a one-off donation of your choice. Accompanying Agnes to her new home was a physician by the name of MacBeatha, who’s family would go on to serve the Lords of the Isles for generations. Also, what peat there is would have stepped aside as the years rolled by. Charcoal, autumnal forest decay and Muscovado sugar. Caramel. At the forefront of the hype are German stores Aldi and Lidl, the latter of which made headlines last year with their award winning “Queen Margot” blended scotch. I’m fine with that given the price. Ben Bracken 12-year-old W&Y Blended Malt Scotch Whisky: 12: 40.0 % Vol. Absolutely, indie Bowmore’s post-2000 distillate are future classics. Your tasting notes of “old rope” and “shoe polish” wouldn’t exactly entice me to go hunting for it, but if I see one I’ll grab one. Pepper. Ben Bracken is one of Lidl’s whisky brands and the stable generally contains the ‘too good to be true’ expressions which are released as limited editions. In the mouth: a more rounded peat, approachable and not overpowering at this strength. This 22 year old Islay Single Malt was released for Christmas 2016 and is priced at £44.99, making it a very tempting proposition indeed. The Christmas 2020 splash from Lidl is Ben Bracken 16 Year Old. WhiskyReviews.net is a free service and always will be. Whilst never condoning the adding of caramel I can understand why a bottler may decide to enhance the colour if it is a sherried offering. Aged 12 Years. Touch of lemon. Toffee. Yes, it is. Definitely Bowmore. As long as the whisky is good enough and I’m happy with the experience that should be enough, or should it? On the nose: it has character despite the strength with a waft of peat kicking off proceedings. Tangy sea spray, bonfire smoke, salted bananas and baked apples arouse the senses. With an obviously peaty aroma, this whisky has notes of soot and smoke that are backed up by sponge pudding and candied orange. If it’s coloured and chill-filtered then that would rule out Ardbeg, right? As we have already bought and tasted a dram from Aldi we thought we would give Lidl a wee look see, and decided to buy their 12 year old Speyside. None in our local but whilst at chester store 7 bottles on the shelf? The strength of this whisky is 40.0 % Vol. Many suggest that it was MacBeatha who first brought the knowledge of uisge-beatha to Scotland. Smell: Acrid smoke and ash. That’s the price we all pay for a bargain that actually delivers. Thankfully, Lidl managed to pull off this special from Islay and bottled at 16 years of age. Sure, there’s too much colouring and the 43% strength isn’t ideal, nor the filtration utilised. Bowmore, the oldest distillery, came into being in 1779 but distillation in many forms was taking place long before then. “Friends of Bruichladdich” 11 Year Old Single Cask, Distilleries of Scotland (under development), Scotch Malt Whisky Society Bottling Codes, That Boutique-y Whisky Company Advent Calendar, Beer Review: Ardbeg / Williams Bros “The Shortie” Smoky Porter. Bought them all for my friends here in Prestatyn. I’d certainly buy another bottle if these hadn’t already been stripped from the shelves across the UK. Light, elegant and refined with attractive nuances of vanilla honey, cinnamon, creamy caramel and coffee latte. Ben Bracken Islay Single Malt (Lidl) Posted on March 12, 2020 September 9, 2020 by Neill Murphy Neill Murphy reviews a bargain basement single malt from the isle of Islay, bottled by German supermarket chain Lidl. Liquorice. 2. Made by Whyte and Mackay, it's widely assumed this came from their only Speyside distillery - Tamnavulin. A comparison of two quite similar whiskies. We’re heading down to Lidl for some bargain basement Speyside Single Malt. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Support Malt Each Month By Becoming A Patron. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Given the amount of interest in such budget-friendly bottlings I like to check in on them from time to time and recently made my way to Lidl with the intention of buying one. The packaging actually plays host to some wonderful moments such as cask aged for 16 years, matured in oak and the immortal distilled in copper pot stills. inc. 20% sales tax. Hopefully, you enjoy your purchase. I was however, pleasantly surprised and impressed by its quality and depth given it is such a budget whisky (£17 in Lidl UK). Read more about our new Patron offering, or hit the button below to contribute. No guess at the Origin ? It’s near Islay and they’ve got to do something to sell stocks, so a little geographical inventiveness was applied. 4. Value for Money: There’s no surprise anymore when Lidl bottles turn out to be pretty good. Hi, link for making donation, doesn’t appear to be working. In 1308 Angus Óg Mac Domnhall of Islay married Agnes, daughter of Cú Maige, Baron of Ulster. Bottled by Clydesdale. For the record, this Ben Bracken is bottled at 43% strength and proudly exclaims it is chill filtered. For the record I’m still not convinced that it’s not some wonky Laga 16. The most surprising thing was that I felt it improved no end by adding a little water, something I didn’t expect with a 43% abv. Whether its opening and sharing, or just admiring from a distance, 2020 will be remembered for many things, including the flippers and hoarders who have no interest in the contents; only the financial value. Limited to 1500 bottles. Andrew, if you can get hold of an independent bottling of Bowmore, I’d give it a go, the difference is quite stark (in a positive way). Enthusiasts bashed and drained from the 2020 onslaught of bottle chasing that makes the Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake look like a rendezvous for afternoon tea? Well, it is a Bowmore so it’s not one of the biggest in terms of ppm and peat. For me this is simply the latest in a long line of solid, budget-friendly purchases. Brilliant stuff. Sourced from the Highlands, Speyside and Islay regions, they would be bottled at … The Ben Bracken trio uses whisky from unnamed distilleries Launched ahead of World Whisky Day on 20 May, the trio brings Lidl’s total number of own-label Scotch whiskies to eight. Ben Bracken 1989 27 Year Old Speyside Single Malt available to buy or sell at Whisky Auctioneer online scotch whisky auctions. In the words of Nigella, strangely satisfying. Some of the big whisky websites are funded by corporate groups. Ben Bracken Speyside / Highlands / Islay Ben Bracken is the range of single malts sold by Lidl supermarkets. He is also the online editor for Distilled. I guess I need to try next to the Official Bowmore 15 (never had it, the 12 put me off for life). Budget single malts from massive supermarket chains have become something of a big deal in the whisky world with each retailer offering their own label bottlings. Ben Bracken Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The brand say they expect the peated whisky … Assuming that the lack of any age statement is a hint at the spirit’s youth, I decided to opt for their Islay version, safe in the knowledge that peated whisky can often show very well at a young age. Much debate has centred around the identity of the Islay distillery that the whisky in these bottles originate from. I’m fine with that given the price. Adding water reveals notes of coffee, amber and old newspaper. When asked if it contained Colouring the Marketing guy was No , No , No….. Ben Bracken 12 Year Old Highland Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 40% Alc/vol 70cl, Distilled, Matured and Bottled in Scotland for Lidl. Just has more to say and better balanced. My tasting notes and thoughts. Have we all become sceptical in whisky, that if something is too good to be true, then clearly it is? Spices as well with black peppercorn and cloves. Lidl Ben Bracken Speyside Review Whisky snobs avert your eyes now. Délicious bravo Lidl pour sa créativité alliant qualité et économie, Islay malt definitely isn’t fit everyone. Seeing the legendary ‘Mit Farbstoff: Zuckerkulör’ mentioned reminds me of a Feis tasting at Bowmore many moons ago (2005 possibly) . 5. The packaging actually plays host to some wonderful moments such as cask aged for 16 years, matured in oak and the immortal distilled in copper pot stills. Sea salt and black pepper. Some care and effort has been put into the presentation, so let’s hope that continues into the liquid. This is all fodder and label filler. Yes, this one locally has sold out and with the restrictions, cannot travel to find anymore! Instead, this is the umbrella branding that Lidl uses for its single malt Scotch whiskies. Pretty impressive on paper, eh? Tried it and was very impressed, reminds me of Laphroaig. Cue lots of online chatter about which distillery this release comes from. Caol Ila all the way as its the only one that is readily available at such an age. Go to shop Check with the merchant for stock availability. We’re all guilty of wondering what’s around the corner and what we can get our grubby mitts on. Stick it in a green or brown bottle and ditch the colouring… if only. Lidl have long offered affordable whisky in their spirits selection but in 2017 it was announced that a new range of single malts would be released under the Ben Bracken label. Jason is based in Scotland and is Malt's Chief Engineer. Wine-Searcher is not responsible for omissions and inaccuracies. However if you would like to support the author you can do so by subscribing for just £1 per month. Again, you’d expect this feature given the price point. It’s Ardbeg after Dr Lumsden messed up the latest annual experiment and created something worthwhile. Strangely the colour bears a striking resemblance to the 22yo Islay they released a few years ago , Must be the standard Clydesdale Scotch Whisky Co Colourant tone ( ‘Dalmore’ on the Dulux colour chart….) Just not worth the effort or expense. Others do paid-for content with brands. Their Ben Bracken range covers both a Speyside and Highland variation too. First, what does it taste like? You must buy this and sneak it into blind tastings to shock your friends. This is all fodder and label filler. What they don’t want to state is the distillery, or provide a clue as such, unlike many independent bottlers who have dropped hints where possible. Taste: Vanilla. These enticing aromas are reflected on the palate with rewarding silky flavours of roasted almonds, sun dried raisins, moist banana cake and maple syrup. Toffee. Let you know after our tasting. That’s very kind of you to say. Not any more. We don’t want to sell out, because we want to keep challenging the industry. General description This is a very good whisky for the price, although for me it didn’t have any wow factor. I’d avoid the Bowmore official range. So I became very curious about this whisky. Thank you for your support. This is cask maturation wizardry, and an amazing accomplishment for the price. 70cl 40% abv A very typical Speyside, light and sweet, quite lavish with nutty fruit flavours, apple, pear, vanilla spice, mouthfeel is creamy, a medium finish where I found a little oakiness and toffee. Frankly, I just don’t care. Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. Begin typing your search above and press return to search. Rate Facebook; Twitter; Google+; Upload a picture Details about this bottle Edit Whisky-ID: 28751 Distillery: ... We use cookies and website technologies to customize information and improve your shopping experience all around whisky. It’s two-fingers up at the rest of the whisky industry, that’s for sure. This is the season to be jolly. Only one of these distilleries is the true source, but such speculation confirms the human condition to know more, and a refusal to believe that something is as good as it seems. Cracked black pepper and smokey towards the finish. Powerful and unforgetable with a barrage of aromas. Driftwood. You can reach out via Instagram. Since 2017 they seem to have a standard NAS range with three expressions: Another seasonal tradition are the whisky specials from the German supermarkets. A little something to entice us into their stores in the hope of picking up a bargain, gift or an easy drinker for the coming weeks. The blue one (Speyside maybe) wasn’t bad either. Price compare for Ben Bracken Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky and the best offers and deals in the supermarket and at Lidl. Relative youth has allowed a strong malty character to remain throughout distillation. Thank you. Can it actually be that good and is it value for money? I think the stand out things for me with this is that it’s nose it good but the mouthfeel was so thin and palate was far brineyer (sp?) Frankly, this has become entirely tiresome and predictable. The Ben Bracken range is quite popular these days, even in the Netherlands people are talking about it and it isn’t even for sale here (it isn’t allowed). Whisky reviews, news & features without favour. No one is buying the official products anymore leading to excess stock. vs. 8 Jahre 40 % Vol. Pine cones, caramel and coastline character with driftwood, sea salt and old rope. Ben Bracken isn’t a distillery, or even a place. Over the years they’ve had all kinds of bottlings, some with age statements (12 Years, 16 Years, 28 Years…) many of which have only been released in the UK. Yes, the Ben Bracken distillery doesn’t actually exist. Ben Bracken Islay 16 Jahre 43 % Vol. There’s no distillery – or even place – by the name of Ben Bracken of course, rather I suspect the marketing brains at Lidl flicked through a dictionary of Scottish words with their eyes shut before slamming their finger down at the appropriate moment. Thanks Jason, sure I’ll manage Many thanks, Your email address will not be published. Nice review Jason ! Ben Bracken Single Malt Whisky 27yrs Speyside Scotland Spirit $ 399.38 $ 570.54 / 1000ml. Ben Bracken 16 Islay vs Lagavulin 16. Water on the palate reveals candied orange and varnish. If you’re a supermarket looking to marry value with an attractive price tag; have things become nigh impossible to deliver? Ben Bracken is the name given to malts from an unspecified Speyside distillery produced for German supermarket Lidl. Both bottled at 43% ABV, 16 years old, peated Islay single malts. Thanks, the clue is in the hashtags and on good authority, it ends in ‘more. Great writing – intelligent, witty and informative. We don’t want to sell advertising. Learn how your comment data is processed. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. The firm have launched Ben Bracken whisky - a 16-year-old Islay Single Malt Whisky (ABV 43%, 70cl) - for just £34.99. So, its all too easy to get sucked into values and potential profits. But we could do with your support each month – think of it as buying us a dram. Ownership: Lidl. Chocolate oranges. Ben Bracken. The island has a long tradition of whisky making. Ben Bracken is Lidl’s single malt offering which competes alongside other supermarket own brands and discount stores such as Aldi’s Glen Marnoch range. . Required fields are marked *. Die Ben Bracken Whiskys erscheinen in unregelmäßigen Abständen, Altersstufen und Zusammensetzungen. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Ben Bracken Highland Cd . Malt whisky /whiskey is usually made from barley, which has a particularly affinity with the malting process, and was also the most easily available grain during the ... Stores and prices for 'Ben Bracken 12 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky' | prices, stores, tasting notes and market data. For the record, this Ben Bracken is bottled at 43% strength and proudly exclaims it is chill filtered. Unfortunately they’d passed the bottle around and a hand went up “according to my learned friend from Germany next to me , it says ‘Mit Farbstoff: Zuckerkulör’ – With Colourant :Caramel …..” At this point Percy done his best Jean Luc Picard Facepalm impersonation……. the added colourant. Lidl have long offered affordable whisky in their spirits selection but in 2017 it was announced that a new range of single malts would be released under the Ben Bracken label. We don’t want to partner with brands. In the years since their arrival they have grown to inhabit 760 locations across the country and have now reached across the Atlantic to the United States where an estimated 300 stores are now in operation. Perhaps this is a reflection of the silly prices for casks at auction and via brokers? It’s a decent, but very typical example of what a Speyside “should be”, without pushing any boundaries. Pointless information I know, but nevertheless crucial for padding this article out to a respectable word count. However when it comes to Islay one only has to look at offerings from Ardbeg to know that liquid virtually the colour of a wine spritzer can pack a real flavour punch. Sourced from the Highlands, Speyside and Islay regions, they would be bottled at 40% abv and retail at £17.49 a bottle. Announced for World Whisky day back in May this isn’t Lidl’s first venture into putting their name behind a Whisky but the lineup in 2017 features a Highland, an Islay and the Speyside we have Today. … Thanks for review of Ben Braken islay. Unter dem Namen Ben Bracken werden Whiskys des deutschen Discounter Lidl vertrieben. Either that or it’s some kind of wandering vagabond distillery, as Lidl also sell a Speyside and a Highland offering from Ben Bracken. Ideal, nor the filtration utilised 16-Year-Old Islay Single Malt whisky from Islay that costs.! S near Islay and bottled at 16 years of age for hot air, amber and rope. Sure, there ’ s not one of the Lagavulin 16 Lidl is based in Scotland and it! And retail at £17.49 a bottle is in the glass pays dividends as well to malts an... Came from their only Speyside distillery - Tamnavulin of ppm and peat more! Description this is the name given to malts from an unspecified Speyside distillery - Tamnavulin thereby! 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Put into the presentation, so let ’ s hope that continues into the presentation, so a geographical.