With the price of premium whiskies soaring, shoppers need not break the bank for a decent dram. Supermarkets have upped their game, offering a range of affordable yet impressive bottles. Industry experts share their top picks for value-driven buys.
Billy Abbott, author of A Philosophy of Whisky, notes that quality can be found at any price point. Aldi and Lidl have earned global recognition, with Lidl winning gold at the World Whiskies Awards. The growing popularity of whisky, fuelled by cocktail culture, has prompted supermarkets to improve their selections.
Aidy Smith recommends a bold, youthful whisky from Blackpool, inspired by American styles. Made with English barley and aged for over three years in charred virgin oak, it offers notes of orange marmalade, vanilla, and dark chocolate. Priced at £26, it drops to £18 with a Nectar card.
Joanne Gould highlights a 12-year-old single malt described as approachably smooth with stone fruit and sweetness, perfect for a nightcap or with ginger mixers. Jonathan Hatchman praises Laphroaig 10-year-old as an exemplary Islay single malt with bold peat smoke and medicinal notes, offering consistency and a complex finish.
For those who love intense smoke, Gould suggests Smokehead Islay Single Malt from Morrisons, an uber-peaty whisky with sherried style. Hatchman also recommends Michter’s bourbon, though details are spared in the source.
