The Good Dram Show - Episode 352 'Lidl Own Brand Whisky'

Welcome to this weeks episode of the show in which I'll be reviewing a selection of Lidl own brand bottlings. Are they good value for money? Well, watch and find out!
The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum
Episode 352 - As Balanced as the Whiskies I Like.!
Filmed in The Study
Nottingham
Featuring
Queen Margot 3 year old Blended Scotch Whisky 40%
Queen Margot 5 year old Blended Scotch Whisky 40%
Glen Orchy 5 year old Blended Malt Whisky 40%
Ben Bracken Single Speyside Malt Whisky 40%
Ben Bracken Single Highland Malt Whisky 40%
Ben Bracken Single Islay Malt Whisky 40%
www.lidl.co.uk/our-products/w...
Music
Dzhuss - Dream Hacker
www.jamendo.com
www.jamendo.com/artist/499663...
/ dzhuss
Filmed & Edited by
Chris Goodrum

[@russell3733]

Good to see your "no snobbishness allowed " approach to these drams and a fair assessment of what they bring to the purchaser. Like you, I also liked the Islay single malt they brought out a year back. I wasn't too enamoured with the other two single malts, but they still serve as a ready intro to those regions at a remarkably low price. I'll definitely pick up the Queen Margot 8yo blend. It's been getting quite a good press lately and I'd be interested to give it a spin. So, credit where credit's due. These supermarket blends play a positive role in the market segment they're positioned in, and within their possibilities some of them are obviously performing above their weight. Thanks for the detailed review, Chris. Cheers.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Hi Russell. No problem. Thanks for your comments.

[@WhiskyMystery]

Enjoyed this low end bottle review. Good to keep perspective

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Absolutely!

[@puressenceuk35]

Just found your channel, nice to see someone doing budget stuff for a change. Will be sure to check out your back catalogue of content, keep up the good work.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@morenoandrea5125]

well eggs are inexpensive but... they are AWSOME, i see no reason why people assume that a product is bad because it's cheap!

[@DavidUKesb]

I'd like to see a Ben Bracken Campbeltown bottling as you'd definitely know which distillery it was from!

[@paulmaiwaring4313]

Enjoyed your style and refreshing to see an honest unbiased and helpful review. Thank you...👍👍

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Thanks for watching!

[@philipeagleton9040]

Hi Chris, I received the Ben Bracken Miniature Set as a Christmas gift from someone a couple of years ago. I tried them all side by side and I also thought that the peated version was the better one of the three, whilst the other two were just a bit too bland if I'm honest. However, as you quite rightly point out, these whiskies are made to meet a very keen price point, which they do very successfully. Looking forward to next weeks episode. Cheers!!

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Hi Philip. Thanks for your comments.

[@ConcaCon]

I had the mini set in 2017 for the first time. Was very impressed with it for what it is. Recently bought the trio set for 44 EUR. I'd say the Islay is the best, followed by the Speyside and the Highland was okay, but the weakest of the three. Will try the Abrachan Triple Barrel blend now.

[@carlosfreitas1722]

Thank you for the sense of perspective in a budget line of whisky, we needed a review like this, you got a subscriber.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Awesome, thank you!

[@standrewpics]

In the UK at the moment you can not get Queen Margot in a Lidl store, instead you can get Balblair which is not so good. However having worked at Grants they export Queen Margot to Poland have not seen it in UK Stores for sometime . Grants make Highland Earl for rival Aldi .

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Hi. Thanks for your comment and the informatiuon.

[@DavidUKesb]

I remember the Aldi Glenbridge 40yo Speyside whisky. And yes I did pick up a bottle! Marvellous stuff.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Hi David. Thanks for the comments.

[@WhiskyLock]

Hi there! You make some very good points and this is a rather epic review with lots to take in! FWIW, Clydesdale Whisky Company is owned by Whyte and Mackay who also own Jura, Dalmore and Fettercairn. I have some reviews coming out soon(...ish) of the Queen Margot 3yo (still available here) and the Glen Orchy 5yo. Spoiler: IMHO not much good to say about the Queen Margot 3yo but the Glen Orchy 5yo is excellent value. Slainte!

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@DavidFraser007]

I live in Czech Republic, we don't get 8 year old Queen Margot, the 5 year old was selling at a discount for about £10 a bottle, I'd tried it before so I scooped up 3 bottles. That was a good move as they don't sell it either now, just the 3 year old and it's about £12. Most of my Czech friends drink Tullamore Dew, which is highly marketed here. They will pay 500CzKr for a bottle from a supermarket even though sitting right next on the shelf is Grants Triplewood for 300CzKr. So, if I have anybody round for a barbecue, I don't waste my best single malts for them to knock back in a oner. If you want to go down the rabbit hole of supermarket whisky, Tesco Special Reserve was on sale out here last month for £10 or 300Czkr for a litre bottle. I bought for the first time a few years ago for making mince pies and I had a wee dram, it is actually very drinkable.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Hi. David. Many thanks for your comments. There are a lot of whisky buyers that look down on supermarket own label bottlings and as long as you lower your expectations to a certain extent then a lot of them are perfectly drinkable for the money. Sometimes you can spent a lot more and get a lot less!

[@ZhuJo99]

Tesco in Slovakia also has Glenlivet 12 year old and Glenmorangie too. More expensive than specialized stores but I wonder they offer it anyway. Still, I just started to drink whisky and I mostly enjoy heavily peated & smoked ones like Ledaig 10 or Laphroaig 10. Ordered Finlaggan Old Peaty which is budget whisky (probably young Lavagulin) and can't wait to try it out. For 22 euros I think it would be just great. Green one smoky Islay from Lidl is nowhere to found here.

[@ipreferfreedom162]

Even before watching this I would have said that the best Lidl had to offer was the Queen Margot 8 years old & the Ben Bracken Islay. The main taste I got from the Queen Margot 8 years old was pears - good for the money. I think the Ben Bracken Islay's are all Bowmore & they are ideal if you want to do a bit of home blending. I think the 18 year old Islay they sold at Christmas 21 was the Bowmore Deep & Complex they sell in Travel Retail. I wouldn't buy any of the others myself.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Thanks for your comment.

[@r.hartmann7628]

Try Lidl's GlenAlba 30 or 35. Very good for the price! You can really taste the age. For roughly 60 EUR that was a bargain. Like your show. Very personable and authentic. Keep up the very good work!

[@ConcaCon]

I had the mini set in 2017 for the first time. Was very impressed with it for what it is. Recently bought the trio set for 44 EUR. I'd say the Islay I liked the best, followed by the Speyside and the Highland was okay, but the weakest of the three. Will try the Abrachan Triple Barrel blend now. Overall, these whiskies are very good budget offerings. Also having the Queen Margot 8Y right now, but not liking it that much. For its price it is very decent and drinkable. It lacks any finish but when aerated it gained lots in pleasantness for me.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Hi. Many thanks for watching and commenting.

[@dazlee3449]

hi chris thank you for the in-depth video,i enjoyed watching and wondering about these whiskeys nice insight, as i work around many of different products in my role at LCB in burton on trent, i always wanted to know more and enjoy some of the great products out there with good value prices.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Hi Daz. I'm glad it was helpful!

[@welshtoro3256]

None of these whiskys are likely to rock my boat by the sounds of it but I'm not their target customer. I have actually tried the Ben Bracken Islay (ex-bourbon I think) a couple of years ago and wasn't impressed. However, if you are a one bottle of whisky in the house kind of person and you have the occasional sip they aren't a bad option for the money. I don't really think they are a good advert for whisky though insofar as they don't taste of anything much but might be a present for someone not very interested in whisky.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Hi WT. Thanks for the comment. I think that is a fair comment.

[@ericgilbert8114]

A few whisky writers and reviewers love to deflect the after day customer instead of actually educating them. It's all about club soda and ice to most customers. Approachability, value and introduction is needed by distillers to sell products. As well a lot people don't what to think about a drink at the end of the day and likes to avoid sticker shock and being intimidated by zero knowledge of terms, age statements, Gaelic names and etc. Also, I love to know good quality cheap flexible mixers to have on the shelf. Prefer that to a bottle of Craigellachie 17 being downed over soda for example. Cheers Chris

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Hi Eric. Thanks for comments. That's a good point, each whisky has its place!

[@action963]

I think the speyside ben bracken is lovely...for £17.50 its as good as £30+ speysides brands...i find it hard tasting so many whiskeys together.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Thanks for the comments. I'm sure Lidl will be pleased to hear you say that!

[@pinanti]

Nice video ! Metal greetings from Belgium. I'am gonna buy a Queen Margot !

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Thanks for the comment. You go for it!

[@koeliejoelie2]

Can you explain the bottle shake for checking if there is artificial color in it? That looks like it is very useful. In the Netherlands you can't buy strong liquor in the supermarket.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Many years ago, someone who was more knowledgeable than me at the time told me that when you shake the bottle the bibles will be clear if no caramel has been added, otherwise they will be a yellow-ish colour. Whether that is true or not I don't know but there does appear to be some merit to it.

[@koeliejoelie2]

@@TheGoodDramShow thanks Chris, you should do an episode of tips and tricks and perhaps clear out some misperceptions that exists in the whisky marketing department.

[@_APV_]

@@TheGoodDramShow I think I remember seeing the Highland bottle and seeing caramel in it's ingredients list, if you still have it it'd be interesting if you can confirm it and if you can do the shake test to see how yellow the bubbles are.

[@kostasz7z]

Glen Orchy is the best budget Whisky there is. A light summer Whisky that doesnt sting. I prefer it over the Johnnie Walker Black which is double the price. Glen Orchy makes ALL the cheap commercial Whiskies (Queen Margot 3 , VAT69 , Teachers , Cutty Shark , Famous , JW Red , Grants , Dewars , Haig , Clan McGregor , Passport Scotch , Mackenzie , Label 5 , Ballantines , J&B , Bells , Jameson , Jack Daniels) obsolete. Its a great cheap Whisky that due to its price is the best value for money there is. Sure if you want a PREMIUM/SPECIAL Whisky you can get a Naked Grouse , Chivas , Dimple , Glenffidich , Jura , Cardhu , Highland Park , Johnnie W Green or Talisker but you re paying double the money. Is it really worth it ? I dont think so.

[@darrenhuntington7319]

Your missing Abrachan: Blended Malt, port, bourbon & sherry cask @ 42% £17.50 at Lidl

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Thanks for your comments. Unfortunately I wasn't given a sample of that one.

[@HerbertDuckshort]

More rabbit than Sainsbury’s!! 😉

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Yep, but a lot less offal.!

[@Dobbsauthor]

Nice to see budget brands covered...well done. Even better that the reviews are done by someone with an Alice Cooper vibe. Great video by the way

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Hi Gary. Thanks for watching!

[@cantbendknee]

I love highland park but hate the 12 o.b. the 10 is much nicer and has that highland park character. Please do Aldi next :)

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Thanks for that. I'll have to see if I have samples of any of their bottlings.

[@andljoy]

Would take the margot 3 over bells and thatchers and all that generic crap. The 8 is quite good , you consider that price its the deal honestly. Just finished off the last of my bottle.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Hi. Andrew, thanks for your comment. It's been years since I tasted either Bells or Teachers, mind they haven't been high on my list to do so to be honest!

[@markpedwell1250]

Good man in my own vain 👍

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Thanks Mark!

[@WhiteDeniel]

You know.

[@TheGoodDramShow]

I believe so!

[@Laneryss]

can you talk in a normal english?:)margot and orchy good to clean engine

[@TheGoodDramShow]

Apologies for that. I'll try and speak in words of one syllable or less in future!