Glen Marnoch Islay

No one else has commented on this absurdly cheap Aldi whiskey, so I suppose it’s down to me. I tasted it straight after a couple of Taliskers, so the competition is stiff. Still, Aldi products have repeatedly won blind taste tests so it’s important to be open minded. The colour is pale straw, like an Ardbeg, but the aroma is like iodine daubed on burnt bicycle tires. Not so good. The first taste yields smoke and, er, that’s about it. No fruit, that I can detect, and not much Islay chewy meatiness. They say this stuff is actually Caol Ila or Lagavulin, but if so they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel with this expression. I would love to be shown that a 20 quid whiskey can be a giant killer, but this ain’t it.

2021 expression of this budget malt, aged according to the for 3 years in “oak barrels”. It’s colour bears no relation to a spirit of that age, with a rich amber pour characteristic of a dram with added caramel colouring. The profile is typically Islay: sweet peat smoke, toffee and brine on the nose; this develops on the palate with more seaweed and saltiness. Less aggressive than those from the south coast, whisper it quietly but is this a young Bowmore? Compared to drams of similar provenance, there’s little in the way of ‘burn’ or chemical aftertaste. Not shabby given the price.

You can’t beat the price. I feel like this is an imitation Laphroaig 10. The nose is damp earth and hay with a little sweet fruit in the back. Palate is a little thin at first but becomes oily as you hold it. Rich smouldering smoke and earthy notes. The finish is quite short with a lick of leather. £17.49 in ALDI in the UK. For the price, it’s fantastic. It’s not Laphroaig 10 or any of the top end Islay whiskies but it is lovely.

Quite thin, mild smokiness, malty and sweet with a slight briny quality, it's palatable and easy to drink but one dimensional and just a little bit dull and boring compared to other islays but to be fair it is very cheap.

Peaty with hints of maple, and a lasting flavour. For £17 a bottle it’s a great everyday pour.

Tastes more like a Highland than an Islay but for this price you can’t complain