Lidl Ben Bracken

[lowlander]

Never seen this in Lidl UK

https://www.lidl.de/de/ben-bracken-highland-single-malt-scotch-whisky-40-jahre-cask-strength-42-1-vol/p363292

A bit pricey for a pretty low ABV given its meant to be at cask strength. Still, for that to be available in a supermarket is pretty impressive in itself.

[ralfy legend]

Hahaha agreed on the pull your socks up

[mistah]

Just opened a bottle of the Ben Bracken Islay 16.

I think it's pretty good value for the money. I've not got much experience with older Islay whiskies (other than Lagavulin 16), so difficult for me to pin it down to a specific distillery. But I'd say that this is more of the briney, iodine sort of Islay (Laphroaig, Bowmore, funky barrel of Lagavulin?) rather than the sweet smoky type (whatever I mean by that?)

WIth a teaspoon of water it seems quite a lot more complex than my usual go-to Islay (Laphroaig 10) and definitely worth the extra £5.

[TheWM]

I saw one in Lidl today, just cracked it open, my 9 year old daughter is also helping and her notes will be listed with an asterix

Nose:

Malty bread, peat, some smoke, there are some sweet elements here - crisp apples and pears, vanilla and green tropical fruits, perhaps some melon.

*pork luncheon, cherry, corn sweetness (like bourbon), burnt demerara sugar and smoke. E45

Taste:

Iodine (but not hugely medicinal), peat, brine, salty maritime notes (think Old Pulteney). Citrus bitterness, cooking apples.

*bitters, burnt sugars, peaches, peppery, crepe suzette

Finish:

I'm finding some real bitter sweetness, burnt Seville oranges, pith of lemons, tobacco and associated leathery oaky notes. Does have an E150 type note that I get in Balvenie Doublewood.

*Roses and fudge, dark chocolate, BBQ meat, citrus (grapefruit), lemon rind, mandarins with raisins and coconut water.

Conclusions:

I was immediately on the fence with this. Yes it's an Islay, yes it has some notes that some won't like. I especially didn't like the after taste which I'm putting down to extra E150, but given time in the glass, if you can overlook the cloying sweetness (or perhaps that's just the bitter profile) I found it enjoyable enough. Perhaps like an 81?

Oh, and distillery? It's a Bowmore.

[ralfy legend]

Wm, great for the info, told my m8 last night also that it was a bowmore, can’t say I got all them notes but your knowledge is greatly received.

[DillyT]

[Latic]

[lincoln imp]

[Scotchnthings]

Definitely enjoyable if you like your peatie whiskies. I got whif of laphroaig when first opening the bottle

[Simps]

Lidl used to have the German Christmas releases in the UK the past, then they stopped them about 2-3 years ago, still got a couple of Ben Bracken 28 year olds, 3 Glen Alba 22yr old blended and a couple of 34yr old Glen Alba blended left, picked them all up for about £30-£35 each after Christmas. Not a bad drop for the price,
The surprise was the 22year old blended, was a really nice drink, might crack one open

[ralfy legend]

Simps, on the glen alba range, totally loved the 34, the 25 was nice but I missed the 22 until two years later and a rougue bottle turned up at the great price of £14.99 and was only bottle I seen, and the 22 was I also thought was the best of the range, but the 34 was good also ,

[arqueturus]

Good notes.

I thought either a wonky Lagavulin or a Bowmore. It's got a really thin mouthfeel to me. I tried adding a couple of drops of water and it was a massive improvement, which was a bit of a surprise at 43% abv.

It's worth the price of entry but I don't think much more.

[Simps]

[Winfield]

Been trying my local Lidl for this since Thursday (reason being that "the pallet hadn't arrived"), but still no luck...

[Jimny14]

It's in at lancaster. Picked up a bottle today. Was even offered a tube (none on shelf) if I wanted it. I was not interested but I know some will be. Think you may need to ask.