SCOTCH WHISKY EXPORT TO USA GETS TEMPORARY REPRIEVE

TRUMP'S tariffs on Scotch whisky suspended

REGULATION INITIALLY APPLIES FOR FOUR MONTHS

03 March 2021 brought in great news for British exporting companies in that the US has suspended the retaliatory tariffs on imports of British goods, including Scotch whisky, for the next four months. The caveat is that during this time, existing disputes between the USA and Great Britain must be resolved. The decision by Trump came about after that person’s thoughtless decision on stultifying tariffs resulting from EU subsidies for aircraft manufacturer Airbus, in which the US saw competitive disadvantages for their Big-tech aircraft manufacturer Boeing.

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) squarely blamed the 25% US tariffs introduced sixteen months ago for the sharp decline in Scottish exports last year as reported, and has repeatedly called on the British government to stand by the distilleries.

Reacting to the Biden Administration’s decision, SWA breathed a sigh of relief. Suspending these tariffs – stemming from a transatlantic trade dispute that had nothing to do with the whisky industry – and a return to tariff-free trade with the US means livelihoods and communities across Scotland will be protected. Companies can now really focus on recovery – on building back the American market as well as on building back global exports hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

Scotch whisky export figures for 2020 have now been released, with the industry experiencing a ‘lost decade of growth’ as tariffs and Covid hit exports hard. Compared to Scotch whisky, other spirits categories, including tequila, mezcal, Cognac and American whiskey, performed positively in the US market during 2020, according to a report released by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.

Global exports of Scotch whisky fell by more than £1.1bn during 2020, according to figures released today by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). The export figures are the lowest they have been in a decade, as the combined impact of Covid-19 and the 25% tariff in the United States hit distillers hard.

In 2020, the export value of Scotch whisky exports fell 23% by value to £3.8bn. The number of 70cl bottles exported fell by 13% to the equivalent of 1.14bn.

The value and volume of exports to most of Scotch whisky’s top 10 markets fell as countries went into lockdown to combat the spread of Covid-19 during 2020. The closure of hospitality and travel restrictions impacting airport retail globally saw export values fall in 70% of Scotch whisky’s global markets vis-a-vis 2019. Exports to the EU 27, the industry’s largest regional export market, fell by 15%.

The continued impact of tariffs on exports of Single Malt Scotch whisky to the United States caused the most significant losses. The United States is Scotch whisky’s most valuable market, valued at over £1bn in 2019 when it accounted for a fifth of global exports. In 2020, exports of Scotch whisky to the US fell by 32% to £729m, a loss of £340m compared to 2019, and accounting for around one third of total global export losses. 

The industry repeated calls for more support for Scotch whisky distillers in the UK budget on 03 March seem to have done the trick, even if vicariously. Export losses to the US are in large part a result of the 25% tariff on Single Malt that the industry is forced to pay, because of a continuing dispute between the EU, UK and US governments over subsidies granted to Airbus and Boeing.  Given the tariff has arisen as a result of UK government aerospace policy, the SWA called on the Chancellor to cut spirits duty to mitigate the significant damage being done to the industry.

The Scotch Whisky Association added that these figures were a grim reminder of the challenges faced by distillers over the past year, as exports stalled in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and US tariffs. In effect, the industry lost 10 years of growth in 2020 and it’s going to take some time to build back to a position of strength.

In these challenging times, what was most disappointing was the damage being caused by US tariffs. The US has been, for decades, Scotland’s strongest and most valuable market, but Scotch whisky is now losing considerable ground there. These tariffs were avoidable had the UK, EU and US governments and the European and American aerospace industries been less intransigent. That governments and companies allowed their dispute to continue while the livelihoods of real people, and the future of one of Scotland’s oldest industries, were put at stake reflected badly on them.

          2020 Export Summary

•         Export value of Scotch Whisky in 2020 was £3.8bn, down £1.1bn compared with 2019
•         Export volume of Scotch Whisky in 2020 was the equivalent of 1.14bn 70cl bottles, down 12.6%             compared with 2019
•         Exports have fallen in 127 of 179 global markets
•         Exports by value are now at their lowest level since 2010 when £3.48bn was exported

US Tariffs Impact

• Scotch Whisky exports to the US were valued at £1.07bn in 2019 – the industry’s first billion pound market
• In 2020, exports of Scotch Whisky to the US fell by 32%, or £340m
• Since the 25% tariff was imposed in October 2019, Scotch Whisky exports to the US have fallen 35% or £542m
• Compared to Scotch Whisky, other spirits categories, including tequila, mezcal, Cognac and American whiskey, performed positively in the US market during 2020, according to a report released by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.                         

TOP 10 MARKETS  

The largest export destinations for Scotch Whisky (defined by value) in 2020 were:                           

Country	Exports in 2020 £m	Change in %	Exports in 2019 £m
USA	729	–31.8	1,069
France	375	–13.1	432
Singapore	247	–17.6	300
Taiwan	182	–11.5	205
Latvia	176	+23.6	142
Germany	139	--24.9	185
Japan	114	--22.1	147
Australia	113	--3.17	117
Spain	109	--40.0	180
China	107	+20.4	89


The largest export destinations for Scotch Whisky (defined by volume, 70cl bottles) in 2020 were:                           


Country	Bottles in 2020 m	Change in %	Bottles in 2019 m
France	176	+1.50	173
USA	112	--12.3	127
India	95	--27.8	131
Brazil	45	+5.70	43
Japan	45	-26.2	60
Germany	43	--14.3	50
Mexico	42	--17.9	51
Latvia	39	+11.9	35
Poland	37	+14.6	33
Spain	36	--26.1	57


REGIONAL DATA

In 2020, Scotch Whisky exports by global region (defined by value) were:

Region	Exports in 2020 £m	Change in %	% of global exports
European Union	1.256 bn	–15.1	33
Asia and Oceania	998	–19.4	26
North America	904	–29.6	24
LatAm and Caribbean	260	–31	07
Africa	137	–22	3.6
MENA	121	–49.4	03
West Europe (non-EU)	93	+11.5	02
East Europe (non-EU)	35	–4.8	01

 




 

ALDI AND LIDL SMASHING SPEYSIDE AND ISLAY WHISKIES

 GERMAN SUPERMARKET GIANT LIDL’S AGED EXPRESSIONS

Speyside single malts are single malt Scotch whiskies distilled in Strathspey, the area around the River Spey in Moray and Badenoch and Strathspey, in northeastern Scotland. Strathspey has the greatest number of distilleries of any of the whisky producing areas of Scotland. Dufftown alone has six working distilleries with an annual capacity in excess of 40 million litres of spirit. Roughly 50 percent of Scotland's whisky is made here in the approximately 50 distilleries located in this region.

This dry, warm, region is a natural for whisky distillers because it is close to barley farms, contains the River Spey and is close to the Atlantic port of Garmouth. The water in the area is said to have "the lowest level of dissolved minerals" of any area in Scotland, and that may affect the taste of its whiskies. Another report explains that "quartzite at the source keeps high levels of minerals from mixing with the water".

The region's whiskies have a fruity nature "ranging from ripe pears to sultanas" and some exhibit "sweet, caramel and fruity notes". The use of peat is not common here, so many of the whiskies are not "smoky"; typically, most Speyside whisky is fruity, sweet, and nutty, featuring notes of apple, honey, vanilla, and spice.

There’s no distillery – or even place – by the name of Ben Bracken. It’s just a concoction of Gaelic sounding words the marketing department at Lidl probably picked up from a dictionary bought in Scotland. Bracken, as it happens, is an English word for a fern commonly found across much of the Scottish landscape whilst Ben is from the Gaelic Beinn, for Mountain. There are numerous other expressions in the 20+ year range, from the Highlands, Speyside and Islay. One Highlander is aged at a Methusalahian 40 years!

BEN BRACKEN 28 YEARS OLD SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT 40% ABV

NOSE: Fresh and expressive: honey, newly mown hay and the barn in which it will later be stored. Some pungent floral aromas of honeysuckle and jasmine, then wheaty notes with the unmistakable edge of age. With water, somebody’s been jumping around in the haybarn, sending seeds and dust flying. Water also conjures fruit, in the form of bright tangerine notes.

PALATE: The cereal notes come first, merging gently into animal feed and a farmyardy character. There’s a little curry spice to perk things up and, once you add water, more of that bright tangerine flavour and then the ripe tang of laced marmalade. Then honey and a little Madagascan vanilla.

FINISH: The heady hedgerow aromas round things off nicely.

This 28 YO was released in November 2015 as part of the Lidl Christmas offering. Typically, it’s from an undisclosed Speyside distillery and apart from the bottling strength of 40%, any other details are pretty scarce. One of the stars of the show for Lidl this year. There’s weight, there’s subtlety, there’s complexity and there’s outright pleasure. Simply beautiful. Dreams of a hayloft, late summer, languorous heat, with a bee buzzing past.

BEN BRACKEN 23 YEAR OLD SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT WHISKY 40% ABV 

I wouldn’t normally spend £40 on a bottle of whisky, but the chance to buy a

23 year old whisky for a lot less than a 23 year old normally costs was too good a deal to miss. My local Lidl had a few bottles, so I purchased one, I had been impressed with one of their blends I had bought last year, and Lidl and Aldi have a reputation for good value for money spirits. The good news is, it’s nice. I’ll be honest, it’s not mind blowingly amazing, but I guess I expected too much. I think I got excited by it being a 23 year old whisky, at a bargain price, so I was expecting it to be leaps and bounds better than my normal whisky drinks, but instead, I should have been looking at it, as a £40 whisky, which is 23 years old.

It’s nicer than most of the other whiskies I’ve reviewed, but it costs a bit more than most of them, however it’s not as nice as the Yamazaki, or the 12year old Balvenie Triple Cask I tried a while ago, but it costs less than both of them. As is often the case in life, you get what you pay for, I paid £40 for a bottle of whisky, which is nicer than one that costs £25, but not as nice as one that costs £50 upwards, so I can’t really complain. So, now I’ve got that out the way, how does it taste? It’s smooth, slightly spicy, fruity, slightly woody, not much burn. There’s nothing overpowering or obvious, not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. In short, it’s a nice whisky, but unfortunately nothing stands out about it to make me want to buy it again, or recommend it. It ticks the right boxes, it smells and taste like whisky, but there’s nothing extra-special about this drink.

BEN BRACKEN 22 YEARS OLD ISLAY SINGLE MALT 40% ABV

NOSE: The peat is immediate and enveloping. It’s of the medicinal variety, suggesting sticking plaster, Germolene and camphor. Then there’s a slightly herbal, grassy character with the animal edge of a garden shed taken over by mice. Just a hint of light orange. Water pushes the smoke back, beckoning in toybox memories of Plasticine and Fuzzy-Felt, then forest undergrowth and a pinch of anise.

PALATE: There’s no escaping that smoke, but now it’s a charred, still smoking branch which catches at the back of your throat. There’s a pleasing savoury element too and some Garam Masala, and this savoury theme continues with water, before the smoke returns in lighter and more palatable form.

FINISH: On the short side and a little drying, but some fruit too.

Distilled in 1993, Product of Scotland. Ben Bracken distilled, matured and bottled in Scotland, Islay single malt scotch whisky. Chill Filtered and matured in oak casks for 22 years. Distilled in copper pot stills in the centuries-old manner, it is then laid down in oak casks and matured, undisturbed, for twenty-two years.This screams Islay almost too loudly, and subtlety is not its strong suit. But, once you grow accustomed to it, it’s very enjoyable – plus you can dial it down a bit with water. And did I mention the price…? Camping on a beach. You wake warmed by the morning sun, and the smoke from the dying embers of a fire drifts over, making you cough… and smile.

The senior citizens, the 40 YO, 27 YO and the 25 YO.

LIDL'S BEN BRACKEN SINGLE MALTS WELL INTO THE FRAY

                 EXCELLENT SCOTCH WHISKY AT MOUTH-WATERING PRICES

In December 2019, I had written about the quick progress being made by German Supermarket Giants Aldi and Lidl in producing their own made to order Scotch whiskies at unbelievably low prices and how their popularity was growing exponentially in the European Market. But the new Corona Virus did not spare either of them. Both Lidl and Aldi saw sales growth slow down during the pandemic in a struggle to compete with the UK’s Big Four that were bolstered by their online capabilities. 

Lidl is based out of Neckarsulm, Germany and first came to the United Kingdom in 1994. Since then, they have grown to 760 stores in locations across the country and have now reached across the pond with an estimated 300 stores in operation in the United States.

Neither Aldi or Lidl, which have both challenged the traditional UK supermarkets in recent years, have in-house grocery delivery capabilities, with consumers only able to buy digitally using third-party apps such as Deliveroo, units of which are being ramped up. Even so, Lidl and Aldi reported that sales were up 10.9 per cent and 5.6 per cent respectively in the 12 weeks to 21 February. This week, at a time when a trip to the supermarket is the highlight of most people’s week, British shoppers have voted German discounter Aldi as the best grocers to go for those venturing out and Aldi received a stellar five-star rating for value for money, buttressed by their expanding sales of made to order Scotch whiskies.

Lidl is not far behind in sales of Scotch whisky and has now gone one up. Amongst its frontrunners, Lidl boasts of a Speyside malt as well as two smoothies from Islay, one a 16 YO, all at prices that wouldn’t hurt your pocket as much as Scotch made by Scottish companies.  

Lidl has long offered affordable whisky in their spirits selection. Lidl announced in 2017 that a new range of single malts would be released, using a bit of manufacturing license in that it had named their brand Ben Bracken, a mite Gaelic, wouldn’t you say? Sourced from the Highlands, Speyside and Islay regions, they would retail at €19.99 a bottle. Be that as it may, the quality of these low-cost expressions is exceptional, the downers for the aficionado being the ABV at 40%, chill filtration and addition of caramel colour E150a.

They have a Glenalba single malt brand range of much older vintage and Abrachan for blended malts. The current range is bottled by ‘Clydesdale Whisky Co’ in Glasgow, not to be confused with the other Clydesdale independent bottler and supposedly related to Whyte & MacKay according to some sources.

THE BEN BRACKEN BASIC NAS RANGE 

Over the years Lidl supermarkets have had all kinds of Ben Bracken bottlings, some with age statements (12 Years, 16 Years, 28 Years…) many of which have only been released in the UK. Since 2017, they seem to have a standard NAS range with three expressions:

• Ben Bracken Highland single malt
• Ben Bracken Speyside single malt
• Ben Bracken Islay single malt

Ben Bracken Highland Single Malt 40% ABV

It is not stated on the label where the liquid is sourced from and I cannot say for certain exactly where this dram originated from. It is interesting to see that the Ben Bracken range is labelled by region, in terms of flavour profile. Frankly, these descriptors are good enough and I accept that for the target market this can be helpful rather than an oversimplification of Scotch styles. This bottling is the standard 40% ABV and has no age statement. Enthusiasts will discover that the age is somewhere in the 4-6 year range. They are priced at £17.49 a bottle, and at that price it is very hard to see how you can go wrong if you like whisky in general. It does not disappoint.

Nose: soaked oats, toffee, nutmeg and a light meaty edge. Overripe orange. It has a lot more weight to it than the Speyside but I find it a little less interesting. Lots of cereals and caramel, but nothing stands out.

Palate: Slightly rough at first contact, but smoothens over with time and a coupla drops of water, when it gains some freshness. Certainly more toast, toffee sweetness and a hint of chocolate. Cooked fruits. Cinnamon. A hint of roasted nuts.

Finish: medium, with hints of coffee, spice and chocolate. Oily, with the Chardonnay and apples making themselves known. Warming at the end.

Ben Bracken Islay Single Malt 40% ABV

Around  that same low cost again, for what’s close to a Caol Ila single malt. Loses out a lot for want of a proper ABV. But again, this is a price / quality ratio that is hard to criticise.

Nose: quite smoky, with hints of kippers and brine behind it. Some vanilla and almond sweetness in the background. Cigarette smoke. Sweet citrus. Hints of yeasty dough. Lacking some punch, it feels like a friendlier version of Big Peat.

Mouth: sweet mineral notes, with brine and spices. Plenty of cold ashes now, not bad. Lemons, hints of salted toffee. Hazelnut. Dilution hurt it a little though.

Finish: quite long, slightly high on the spices but also nicely oily.

Ben Bracken Speyside Single Malt 40% ABV

For its cost, this is a fair offer from Lidl. Nothing to get overly excited about but good value for money, even with the edge on the palate a cue to its young age.

Nose: fresh and not too bad actually. Banana ice cream, vanilla custard, raisins. Apricots in syrup. Sugary cereals, hints of honey. Faint nutty notes. Seems older than 3 years.

Mouth: less exciting. Even with the low ABV the alcohol isn’t really integrated. Apples, raisins, some peppery oak and plenty of malty notes. A little caramel too.

Finish: medium, with light oak spice and sweet malt.

Ben Bracken's 16 YO Islay Single Malt 43% ABV

While 2020 may not have been our best year, one thing we’ve certainly enjoyed is whisky. And a glimpse of another tonic, the vaccine to cope with the Corona Virus. We’ve all been wondering what’s around the corner and what the future holds. On the earthly front, other seasonal traditions are the whisky specials from the German supermarkets- A hopeful bargain, gift or an easy drinker. 

Aldi didn’t really go all out this year; perhaps they have a surprise in store. If you’re a supermarket looking to marry value with an attractive price tag, have things become truly impossible to deliver? Well, Lidl managed to pull off this special from Islay and bottled at 16 years of age. Created by the experienced hands at Whyte & Mackay, if you can find a bottle, then it’s yours for just £34.99. Wow!

A number of controversies were created around the whisky about its antecedents. Only one of the Islay distilleries is the true source, but speculation confirms the human condition to know more, and a refusal to believe that something is as good as it seems. Have we all become sceptical in whisky, that if something is too good to be true, then clearly it isn’t?

Maybe I’m just an experienced onlooker, or someone, who has been around the block more times than necessary and doesn’t want to do it again – I don’t really care what Islay distillery produced this. The price point of £34.99 and the availability of an age statement should remove any need for hot air. As long as the whisky is good enough and I’m happy with the experience that should be enough, shouldn’t it?

For the record, this Ben Bracken is bottled at 43% strength and chill filtered. I’m fine with that given the price. The packaging actually plays host to some wonderful moments such as cask aged for 16 years, matured in oak. What they don’t want to state is the distillery, or provide a clue as such, unlike many independent bottlers who have dropped hints where possible. There’s a rich colour on display, suggestive that E150a has been added to a sizeable degree, particularly given the omission when it comes to a natural colour statement. Again, you’d expect this feature given the price point.

Despite all these flaws, there’s no denying that the bottle looks a little more premium than the regular Ben Bracken releases. Some care and effort has been put into the presentation, so let’s hope that continues into the liquid.

Colour: Caramel.

On the nose: it has character despite the strength with a waft of peat kicking off proceedings. Pine cones, caramel and coastline character with driftwood, sea salt and old rope. Spices as well with black peppercorn and cloves. Charcoal, autumnal forest decay and Muscovado sugar. Adding water reveals notes of coffee, amber and old newspaper.

In the mouth: a more rounded peat, approachable and not overpowering at this strength. Nuttiness with walnuts and pecans. Cracked black pepper and smoky towards the finish. Shoe polish, black tea and charcoal with liquorice. Water on the palate reveals candied orange and varnish.

I’d certainly buy another bottle if I could find one on the shelves across the UK. 

GERMAN SUPERMARKET GIANT LIDL'S AGED SCOTCH WHISKIES

 EXCELLENT WHISKIES AT MOUTHWATERING PRICES

Lidl Catching Up With Aldi

In December 2019, I had written about the quick progress being made by German Supermarket Giants Aldi and Lidl in producing their own made to order Scotch whiskies at unbelievably low prices and how their popularity was growing exponentially in the European Market. 

Lidl is based out of Neckarsulm, Germany and first came to the United Kingdom in 1994. Since then, they have grown to 760 stores in locations across the country and have now reached across the pond with an estimated 300 stores in operation in the United States.

British shoppers have voted German discounter Aldi as the best grocers to go for those venturing out and Aldi received a stellar five-star rating for value for money, buttressed by their expanding sales of made to order Scotch whiskies.

Lidl has long offered affordable whisky in their spirits section. They have a Glenalba brand (much older) and Abrachan for blended malts. The current range is bottled by ‘Clydesdale Whisky Co’ in Glasgow, not to be confused with the other Clydesdale independent bottler and supposedly related to Whyte & MacKay according to some sources. I'll examine and review the Glenalba Range first.

Brought out in 2015, the Glenalba range includes a 22 Year Old, a 25 Year Old and a 34 Year Old that received an incredible 95.5 out of 100 points in Jim Murray’s 2017 Whisky Bible.

What makes Lidl’s Scotch different however, is the fact that it’s actually pretty damn impressive. The company have already won two Gold awards and six Silver awards in the Scotch Whisky Category at the International Spirits Challenge. Perhaps the most compelling part of the Lidl range is that it is not expensive, and varies in price from around £30 upwards. The Glen Alba 34 Year Old, the oldest of the malts, retails at £44.99, is the perfect example of why Lidl have done so well in the Scotch category.

Glen Alba 22 Year Old: The Youngest

The youngest of the bunch is Glen Alba 22, a 22 YO with a Sherry cask finish. Priced at just £29.99, this is a brilliantly fruity expression, with just the right amount of malty spice peaking through. The nose conjures images of rich orchards bursting with multiple varieties of fruit, all dusted with a cinnamon hue. Apples, orange, bananas and pears are all present in the first whiff with great distinction to each.  They are sweet and juicy, just beckoning to be plucked from the bough. With a healthy dose of spice on top, the nose is only a sign of just what is to come. There are also hints of rich malt and oaky woodiness throughout the nose.

These flavours are boosted on the palate and the blend really comes alive. The fruit takes a dry, tangy turn and is wonderfully complemented by the subtle dullness of the oak.  The Sherry of the barrels can be tasted in the fruit and the characteristic combination of sweet and spice. Overall the palate has a warming clarity of flavours, with the fruits and oak being separate and complementary all at once. The finish is quick and the warming qualities becoming ever more apparent.

Glen Alba 25 Year Old

The Glen Alba YO is also finished in a Sherry cask, and a refined and sophisticated step up from Glenalba 22. The opening nose is dark and strong, and although not immediate, the rich sweetness and spice can be detected just under the surface. Upon further inspection, there is a deep fruity flavour with nutty overtones reminiscent of the Sherry cask.  The sweetness of the fruit is perfectly complemented with hazelnuts and cashews making an appearance every now and then. There is a distinct caramel flavour to the sweetness, intertwining with the nuttiness to create a wonderful combination.

On the palate, the mouth feel is super smooth, with the creamy caramel really standing out. Chocolate oranges and candied citrus peels make their way to the forefront, with the tell tale Sherry spice to give them depth and sophistication.  The warming qualities of the 22-Year-Old are even more evident in Glen Alba 25 and they make this the perfect dram for enjoying across from a blazing fire on a cold winter’s night.

The finish is dry and filled with plenty of fruit and spice, extending that warming sensation right to the end.

Glen Alba 34 Year Old

This expression has been matured in sherry casks and was first distilled in 1981. It is brimming with flavours and opens with a nose of sweet and spice. It is the ideal Christmas dram, with lots of warming aromas, like cinnamon and apple pie, and a delicate hint of gingerbread. The spices are easy going and perfect for sipping round an open fire. They combine well with the various fruits that also make an appearance, including fresh cooking apples and citrus fruits. There is an orange tang that goes excellently with the cinnamon spice. This develops into a sweeter marmalade flavour that is combined with chewy fudge and dark chocolate. These sweeter flavours give a nice backdrop for the spices to play off. On the palate, this dram is incredibly smooth, as one would expect after 34 years. It goes down easy and is full of flavour.

The sweet marmalade and dark chocolate come together well on the palate and are joined with similar flavours, such as bitter coffee and liquorice. There is also a distinctly almond flavour that ties in well. It becomes more like marzipan in texture and taste as the dram continues, bringing together the sweet chocolate and fruit flavours as it goes. This is brings in oak wood as well, with a slightly vanilla and cinnamon edge to it. This grows and deepens into a maple syrup flavour that coats the chocolate and wood and combines them all in harmony.

The finish continues along the sweet note, with one final kick of cinnamon to tie it altogether. This Glen Alba is a dram definitely worth enjoying while reminiscing about days gone by in cozy surroundings.

Abrachan Blended Malt

Abrachan Blended Malt is an expression produced by Lidl and is part of the standard spirits range. It comprises of single malt whiskies which have been matured in 3 different casks; Bourbon Barrels, Oloroso Sherry Butts and Tawny Port Pipes before being vatted together to make the blend. It doesn’t carry an age statement, but is bottled at a moderate 42%. 

Despite being only £17.99 a bottle, it has won several awards including Silver at the 2014 IWCS and 2015 International Spirits Challenge.

Nose: Rich fruit jumps out at first — sherry Christmas cake, but sweeter more candied fruit as well. A hint of vanilla too and some malty notes. Big fig flavours appear but there’s a dark sugar / treacle undercurrent. Black cherries detected and then perfumed sugar with pear drops. A really pleasant, mouthwatering nose.

Quite a rich mouthfeel — smooth arrival with the dark cherries being the first flavour, but then quickly overtaken with some more bitter notes. Clove and orange can be detected, but then burnt toffee, dried ginger and bitter dark chocolate with some leathery dryness. It sweetens up with dried fruit just before the finish.

Finish:  The finish isn’t hugely long, but there’s a woody dryness which keeps it lingering and the oily texture prevents it being washed away. Really very pleasant.

Overall: I think anyone blind-tasting Abrachan would judge it to be more expensive than is it. It’s a good whisky anyway, but when you factor in the price, it makes it a great whisky. Whilst not the most complex of spirits, the flavours are very good and it balances being approachable and interesting with ease. At £17.99 a bottle, this is definitely a bottle to take along.