Ben Bracken 22 Islay (Lidl) Review

Hello everyone,

Here's something interesting, a 22 year old Sherried Laphroaig for £40. Well, they don't say it's Laphroaig but that's my guess. This was released at Lidl supermarket in the UK for Christmas. Seems like a pretty good deal. But older doesn't always mean better. Proudly chill-filtered, which is odd.

Ben Bracken 22 Islay 40%

Colour: Dark Amber. Too dark to just be E150a

Body: Medium

Nose: Incredibly sweet, tonnes of fruit- Spiced orange, mango, banana, cinnamon. Candy- Lots of bubblegum, strawberry laces, cola bottles, Haribo. A tiny wisp of peat smoke, tyre rubber, bandages, old copper coins.

Taste: Soft arrival, copper coins, quite metallic, a little smoke developing, some spiced fruitiness throughout with orange, banana and mango. Cinnamon and ginger with oak going into the finish. A little thin on the mouthfeel.

Finish: Medium length. Oak and Sherried spice.

I think it's Laphroaig but the Sherry and oak is quite strong. Quite unbalanced taste, esp. into the finish.

72/100

Review #84

Network Average: 76.8

Best Score: 91

Worst Score: 44

0-49 Terrible

50-59 Bad

60-64 Just About OK

65-69 Ok to Good

70-74 Good

75-79 Very Good

80-84 Excellent

85-89 Superb

90+ Magnificent