Three Peated Single Malts
Today we have three single malts to taste and compare.
Our combatants are :-
Ben Bracken Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, unaged, 40% Alc/vol, 70 cl. From Lidl. Priced at £18.50
Glen Marnoch Islay Single malt Scotch Whisky, aged three years, 40% Alc/vol 70 cl. From Aldi. Priced at £18.50.
Kenmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky. A Whisky from a windswept Island off Scotland’s Coast, 40% Alc/vol. 70 cl. From Marks & Spencers. Priced at £28.00.
My tasting notes.
Up first is Ben Bracken:
Nose: This is quite mild for an Islay, a hint of orchard fruits, some smoke from a distant beach BBQ. Neat it is a little spirity with not too much peat smoke, a little honey and liquorice. With just a teardrop of water it certainly opens it up with more peat and sea spray, sweeter than neat.
Finish: Medium in length, peat smoke is the lingering taste.
Next we have the Glen Marnoch.
Nose: This is sweet and smokey, burnt toffee, a slight hint of vanilla. Neat, peat smoke at the front, peppered mackerel, this one does not need too much water. With that little splash of water, now a very easy drinking islay dram, smoky pineapple and kiwi fruit on a bonfire, on the beach toasting marshmallows on the open fire.
Finish: Medium to long a glow of charred bonfire embers in the aftertaste.
Finally we have Kenmore.
Nose: This is a little smoky, some dried seaweed, we then moved to a boat shed in an island harbour, some medicinal notes. Honey and vanilla, Neat, sea-shore salty spray, this one is big and chewy, great combination of peat smoke, spices and a maritime note. Now going very easy on the water, adding water brought out more of a medicinal note, charred orange peel, lemon drizzled kipper, quite a complex dram, really liking this one.
Finish: Medium to long, a fine balance between peat smoke, spice and charred staves.
Now how did this comparison go. Between Aldi and Lidl drams it was very close but the Glen Marnoch from Aldi just pipped the Ben Bracken. The outright winner was the Kenmore, more complex and a finer flavour than the other two. The Kenmore, although approximately £10 more expensive than the two Islay Single Malts from the bargain supermarkets, is certainly worth the extra.
The only thing I would have loved to know is what Distilleries produced these fine drams – we will just have to guess.
