Ben Bracken Speyside
The discounter LIDL has several single malts in its range, including the Ben Bracken Speyside, which is described as light and fruity. We took a closer look at the whisky.LIDL does not reveal which distillery is behind Ben Bracken. All we know is that we have a whisky from the Scottish Speyside at a bargain price in our glass. The packaging is dark red, which distinguishes it from the other whiskies in the series. There is also a Highland peated, a Highland unpeated and an Islay Scotch.
Tasting Notes
Nose
The Speysider opens remarkably voluminous, smelling of beeswax candles, pear and apple and especially without strong alcoholic sharpness. In the background a maltiness and dried straw. The smell reminds a little of hay bales.
Palate
The beeswax also continues in the taste. At the same time creamy and syrupy, but still tasting of mealy apples, the aromas fan out further. In the background, hay again and, with a little imagination, a ripe banana.
Finish
An indefinable and unfortunately disgusting note in the finish ruins the medium-long and otherwise nut-cake tasting finish.
Thoughts
Marcel 59/100
The Ben Bracken Speyside surprises with its creamy honey note and a fruity touch that immediately invites you to keep drinking – until the finish unfortunately ruins it all. For a discount store whisky, it’s quite decent, but the odd finish takes the wind out of the sails. If you’re looking for uncomplicated enjoyment, it’s worth a look, but not a must.
Sascha 59/100
The Ben Bracken Speyside offers an appealing balance of waxy and fruity aromas at a moderate 40% ABV, but shows weaknesses in the finish quality, which is marred by an indefinable note that clouds the overall impression. The lack of an age statement and the moderate aromatic depth suggest this is a relatively young whisky that, despite some good elements in flavor, doesn’t rise above the average. For beginners on a budget, it’s worth an optional try, but for connoisseurs, it’s not very exciting.
Value for Money: Good
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77/100Frequently Asked Questions
Which distillery is behind the Ben Bracken Speyside whisky?
The producer of Ben Bracken Speyside is not officially disclosed by LIDL. The whisky comes from the Speyside region and is distributed by the independent bottler Clydesdale.
How can the taste of Ben Bracken Speyside be described?
The whisky shows aromas of beeswax, pear, apple, and maltiness with a hint of hay and dried straw. On the palate, the beeswax note continues, complemented by mealy apples, creamy and syrupy textures, and a subtle banana. The finish is medium-length with nutty notes but is accompanied by an indefinable, unpleasant note.
How is Ben Bracken Speyside positioned compared to other LIDL single malts?
Ben Bracken Speyside is the fruity and lighter representative among LIDL’s single malts. It differs from other variants like the Highland Peated, Highland Unpeated, and the Islay Scotch by its brighter, fruitier aroma profile and its packaging in dark red.