“A” starts the alphabet, and then comes “B”. It’s refreshing to have a tasting theme now and again that does not revolve around one distillery or some other very logical category. Here I simply went looking for some drams that started on the letter B, and found several candidates. In the end my palate was able to handle just two today, so two I shall review. Inadvertently, the theme for these drams could have been “low-end vs high-end oldies” . Both are single malts of venerable age (as far a whisky is concerned) — 28yo and 25yo — the one is bottled for LIDL, I suppose as a sort-of budget drinkers idea of a high-end whisky, and the other one is rumoured to be a secret Macallan (see whiskybase). Let the showdown begin.
Ben Bracken 28yo Wallace & Young
Type: Scotch single malt
Alcohol: 46%
Cask info: —
Bottling info: chill-filtered stated; bottled for LIDL
Price and availability: available for €110 (Germany, 2023)
🔗WhiskyBase
Review of small sample (paid €6 for 2cl from Soul of Whisky)
Experience ⚡
On the nose, a spectrum of produce from carrots and pumpkin to melon and banana, overripe tropical fruits, and citrus, most notably bergamot. This is overlaid by vanilla and a fatty aroma; clotted cream, gone a little sour, and Vaseline. Some damp wood notes too. Not very complex, but one can smell that there is age here, and the coherency improves a lot with time in the glass whilst a floral theme slowly develops. The palate and finish is sweet, gently spicy, lightly bitter. Flavourful but somewhat generic with notes of white pepper and tropical fruits.
Thoughts 💡
Supposedly €70 in LIDL supermarkets a couple of years ago. On paper that’s insane value for money a 28yo single malt, but flavour-wise I’d just call it fair. A well-chosen IB single cask of lesser age will deliver a more memorable experience at the same price. It’s almost funny how it proudly state chill filtered on the label, making it rather clear that it’s a product marketed at shoppers who haven’t got a clue and think that it’s a good thing.
Worthwhile and enjoyable ✔️
“Mr. Bond’s Choice” 25yo (1995) Whisky Druid
Type: Scotch single malt
Alcohol: 51.3%
Cask info: bourbon barrel #1409062
Bottling info: unchillfiltered and natural colour
Price and availability: available at €490 (Germany, 2023)
🔗WhiskyBase
Review of small sample (paid €10 for 2cl from Brühler Whisky Haus)
Experience ⚡
A little closed at first. Zesty, malty, and mild brine. Salted grapefruit, crisp granny smiths, bananas and… eukalyptus? Punch pralines and marzipan, just a touch of vanilla. On the tongue, biting alcohol, but a really satisfying density. Let’s just water it down a bit. Oh, that did the trick. Ah — tropical fruit syrup, and the nectar of some fantastical flower… aaaand the sample’s gone. Gentle gooseberry finish. Overall, very little wood, no off-notes, great balance.
Thoughts 💡
This is seriously good. The only thing bringing it down is that my palate was already a bit overburdened and I need more than this wee sample to fully explore this drop. Maybe then a ❤️, but for now I put an emphatic ✔️. That said, comparable stuff could be found under €200 if one knows where to look, so the current price is ridiculous.
Worthwhile and enjoyable ✔️
Unsurprisingly, the secret (possibly) Macallan has more than an edge. In hindsight, had I done this tasting off the cuff, i.e. with no prior research about the origins of each dram before the tasting, it would have been more fun and maybe revealing. I wouldn’t rule out that the budget association LIDL brings would affect my interpretation of flavours negatively. Does cream and tart fruits become soured cream instead? Beeswax turns into Vaseline? I think I’m being honest in my description, but how to be sure unless one runs the blind test?
DuckDrams 
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