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Whisky - opinion - from the Scots if possible

(19 Posts)
Dinahmo Fri 31-Dec-21 16:45:27

We have been buying a blended malt whisky from Lidl which costs between 17 and 18 euros. It's called Abrachan and apparently is made from single malts matured in barrels from Spain (sherry) America (bourbon) and Portugal (tawny port).

The whiskies that we used to drink, MacCallan if we were feeling flush, we can no longer afford. But we like the Abrachan. Can you get it in Scotland or are we lucky?

A side note - many years ago my IH was restoring some furniture at Dunvegan and went to the local pub for his meals. He got a bit of stick from the locals who asked why the MacLeod had chose an Englishman to do the work. The answer was that the MacLeod lived in Chelsea.

On his last evening one of the regulars was going back to the oilfield and was buying everyone a drink. My OH started to leave and the oilman asked him to stay. He bought everyone MacCallen from 1948.My OH still remembers the taste. Lucky or what?

Happy Hogmanay

Grandmabatty Fri 31-Dec-21 16:49:49

I've never heard of Abrachan. The Macallan is a superb whisky. I like a malt on its own but I find it upsets my stomach now. My favourite is an Irish Jamieson's with green ginger. Heresy for a Scot, I know. Happy Hogmanay to you and a guid new Year.

Aveline Fri 31-Dec-21 16:56:54

I've never understood the attraction of whisky. I've visited distilleries and been to whisky tastings. Might as well drink TCP.

MayBeMaw Fri 31-Dec-21 17:08:09

I’d never heard of it- (unsurprising with so many single malts and blends to choose from. I think it was the Sligachan Inn on Skye which we used to go to when summering on Skye, which had optics the full length of the bar, each one a different malt!
Anyway, this gets an excellent write up and is very reasonably priced. Might need a trip to Lidl soon!
The Lidl Abrachan blended malt Scotch whisky has hints of smoked sea salt, beach bonfires and caramelised sugar, and is in stores now for £15.99
Inspired by Scottish folklore, Abrachan is a mythical beast who roamed the Highlands and Lowlands
The new Highlands & Speyside blended Scotch malt whisky joins Lidl’s award-winning range, with the retailer most recently picking up four accolades for Queen Margot and Ben Bracken varieties at the World Whisky Awards
Whisky expert and founder of World Whisky Day, Blair Bowman, got a first taste of the new product and said "The Abrachan is a champion of blended malts, one packed with flavour that is an excellent introduction to whisky for new dram explorers.
"Its notes of warm vanilla and spiced finish are a nod to its Highlands and Speyside origins. A delicious and moreish blended malt with a lovely balance of sweetness and smokiness

Dinahmo Fri 31-Dec-21 17:12:20

MayBeMAw Thank you for that. Good to know that an expert shares my opinion. Also interesting that the price in France is the same as in the UK.

paddyann54 Fri 31-Dec-21 17:45:09

I think its bottled for lidl and possibly renamed .I've never heard of it and my OH collects Whisky /whiskey .He 's a fan of Irish whiskey and gets both as gifts but he's quite fussy about what Scotch he drinks ,not a fan of heavily peated island malts

Dinahmo Fri 31-Dec-21 18:11:07

The Abrachan isn't heavily peated. We've also tried the single malt, Ben Bracken, but prefer the blend.
I've just found a site called Malt Box Whisky. The reviewer says that the post code for the Clydesdale Scotch Whisky Co is the same as that for Whyte and Mackay.

I'd give it a try.

Tizliz Fri 31-Dec-21 18:17:59

It so depends on personal taste. We bought a Lidl whisky and didn’t like it at all. I like a Speyside - Cardhu or Dalwhinnie

H1954 Fri 31-Dec-21 18:24:03

Grandmabatty

I've never heard of Abrachan. The Macallan is a superb whisky. I like a malt on its own but I find it upsets my stomach now. My favourite is an Irish Jamieson's with green ginger. Heresy for a Scot, I know. Happy Hogmanay to you and a guid new Year.

Grandmabatty, if you like a drop of Irish do try Tullamore Dew, it's far smoother than Jamieson.

mokryna Fri 31-Dec-21 18:36:50

Passed a local cave à vins and had to look twice at the advertising, French whisky.

Sloegin Fri 31-Dec-21 18:37:14

I prefer whiskey with an 'e'. Irish whiskey. Bushmills, Black Bush. It's stored in sherry casks giving it a lovely flavour.

Baggs Fri 31-Dec-21 18:38:53

A little water ('wee drop') added to a malt can make a big difference to one's experience of it. I've enjoyed an occasional small whisky since DD told me that. I like to have a hot mug of tea alongside too and take alternate sips.

Blondiescot Fri 31-Dec-21 18:58:19

Sloegin

I prefer whiskey with an 'e'. Irish whiskey. Bushmills, Black Bush. It's stored in sherry casks giving it a lovely flavour.

You can also get Scotch sherry cask whisky too.

Aveline Fri 31-Dec-21 19:29:29

There's an actual place called Abriachen fyi. I though Abrachan sounded odd.

wildswan16 Fri 31-Dec-21 19:51:09

Apparently (according to one google site) the Abrachan was a mythical beast that roamed the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland, tormenting villages and scorching the land with its fiery breath.

Clearly an early relative of the haggis.

annodomini Fri 31-Dec-21 20:09:42

I don't drink much, if any, whisky nowadays, but if someone offered me a dram or two of the Islay malt Laphroaigh, I wouldn't say no. I prefer the smokey malts from Islay to the peaty malts from Speyside.

Calistemon Fri 31-Dec-21 20:12:52

wildswan16 ?

I think Aldi and Lidl whiskies came out top in tests last year.

mrshat Fri 31-Dec-21 21:02:23

Always an Irish Jameson for me !! smile

Greyduster Sat 01-Jan-22 08:44:55

I can’t drink blended Scotch, but love a drop of single malt. My outright favourite is Oban, but I can’t afford it, so I drink Jura, Ardbeg, Talisker Skye or currently, Highland Park - lovely malts in lovely bottles (if you were daft enough to buy a malt for the empty bottle, it would have to be Highland Park!). Tasting notes baffle me completely I’m afraid.