Ben Bracken Highland Single Malt

Aroma: faint grain, maple syrup, artificial shoe polish, vegetation, pear, citrus, soap Taste: grainy, honey, white wine Aftertaste: dry, sharp, Chardonnay wine _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Last 16, Match 4: Ben Bracken Highland versus Isle of Skye 12yo Ben Bracken is the single malt brand of Lidl (one of Europe’s discount supermarket titans if you don’t know). There is also a Speyside and Islay version in this NAS range, and they sometimes release age stated versions. They never identify the source, however. This is young and unbalanced but that is not to say it does not have its merits. It wears a varied and pleasant perfume, but it is let down by a taste that is light & thin and hot & sharp. I will be generous and award a tie for its bouquet, but The Isle of Skye is better in all other classes. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- The intolerable torment of a whiskyphile. Faced with a large array of samples and miniatures I can suffer from analysis paralysis - deciding on a dram can often take twice as long as drinking it. I have selected sixteen scotch whiskies that are 12yrs or younger or NAS to battle it out in a Scotch Deathmatch. It’s my incentive to lighten the logjam. Follow along if you care (and really why should you?). Oh the drama! https://challonge.com/ScotchMadness

This is a spirit from Lidl's private label whisky collection. Initially, it seems quite light, with a youthful and sweet flavor profile. As it sits, the sweetness persists but is joined by a citrusy tartness and subtle oak notes that linger. In summary, it's a respectable drink for its cost. It's very affordable, light, and smooth, surpassing many whiskies in its price category. While I won't be rushing to purchase it, it's understated and quite agreeable.

This is quite affordable. A pleasant, easy drinker. Its main virtue and flaw is its lack of distinction! Leans toward baked goods and cookies, I would keep it on hand for casual sharing, and you wouldn't mind if "that person" took rapid shots!!

Nose: spice, citrus spice, sourdough, a bit of brine. Palate: oily, caramel, brine, spice, salty, a few dried fruits. For this price, no complaints. Delivers better than expected. Try if you can, it's definitely not going to hurt any budget.

Nose is quite sweet with a strong orange presence. Abundant honey and brown sugar notes. Then an intriguing bitterness appears. Hints of coffee and a pleasant warmth. It's not overly complicated. A sharp, bitter taste remains on the palate. Considering its low price, youth, and origin from Lidl, expectations are limited. It's about what you'd anticipate.

This whiskey isn't overly intricate; it's light and fruity. It's nothing remarkable, but considering it costs only 12 Euro, it's a good value. You'd typically spend at least 27-30 Euro for a whiskey of this caliber from a well-known producer.