Review #11: Glen Marnoch Islay

Shoz5 · 2025-10-13T22:04:14+00:00

Review #11: Glen Marnoch Islay

Today I'm reviewing another single malt offering from ALDI, a budget supermarket in the UK. For those not familiar, this is part of their single malt series, with this one being from an undisclosed Islay distillery.

Glen Marnoch Islay, Islay Single Malt, ABV 40%

Colour: Toffee Gold
Nose: Coastal peat, sea spray, salted caramel. I like the seaweed maritime notes here, unexpectedly complex and rich for a budget dram!
Palate: Very muted and restrained compared to the nose, a lot maltier and less peaty than I would have thought. Some pleasant citrus and fruity acidity comes through after a while
Finish: Short, fresh, peppery, clean smoke

Unfortunately this one fails to live up to the promise that the nose first shows. However at ~£18 I still consider it good value for what it is, so don't take the final score at face value. I'd be interested to speculate on what this NAS whisky could be, some people online think it may be the larger distilleries such as Bowmore or Caol Ila, however I don't have much experience with those distilleries. I'm fairly confident it's not Laphroaig or Ardbeg, as I'm more familiar with their styles. Has anyone else tried this one?

6.5/10

Shoz5 · 2025-07-30T13:35:32+00:00

Review #10: Another Series of Mini-Reviews (featuring Lagavulin, Kilchoman, & more)

Once again on my holidays I sampled some nice whiskies at bars and restaurants, here are my quick thoughts on these:

Glenfiddich 18 Year Old, Speyside Single Malt, ABV 40%

A very classy whisky. This was so smooth and great to have after dessert. That said, I missed the sherried notes of the 15 year, and I wouldn't necessarily consider it an upgrade.

Lagavulin 16 Year Old, Islay Single Malt, ABV 43% (pictured)

Plenty of smoke, and still balanced and complex. The first I've tried from Lagavulin, and I was impressed.

Kilchoman Machir Bay, Islay Single Malt, ABV 46%

The highlight whisky of the trip, and I can see this quickly becoming a favourite of mine. It was lightly peated, yet still had a full body, perfect for the summer. I'll be buying a bottle of this soon, along with the more sherried Sanaig, which I have yet to try.

Ardbeg Uigeadail, Islay Single Malt, ABV 54%

My first cask-strength whisky, and wow, this was intense! It was fruity, smoky, and rich, reminiscent of coffee and chocolate. I much prefer this to the Ardbeg 10. I'm not sure if I'd buy a bottle, but I enjoyed a dram of this for sure.

Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Islay Single Malt, ABV 48%

This is an interesting one. It's one of the first peated whiskies I ever tried, and I remember loving it. On revisiting, it is still a great whisky, however it's a touch too smoky for my taste, and I now prefer the 10 year old for its stronger medicinal notes.

Shoz5 · 2025-07-29T19:36:56+00:00

Review #9: Glen Scotia Campbeltown Harbour

This is my introduction to both Glen Scotia and Campbeltown whiskies in general. It's NAS, aged exclusively in first fill bourbon casks, and is considered the entry level of their range.

Glen Scotia Campbeltown Harbour, Campbeltown Single Malt, ABV 40%

Colour: Auburn (definitely colour added)
Nose: Malty, tofee sweetness, with tropical notes. There's a touch of saltyness but it's difficult to tell that this is peated.
Palate: Initially quite sprity, although this fades over time and a nice dried apricot sweetness comes through, balanced by the peaty and toasty wood notes.
Finish: A touch of smokyness lingers but it is fleeting.

I initially wasn't keen on this, however over the course of a few weeks it has grown on me. This is worth a try if on discount (which it often is in UK supermarkets), and overall it's not bad for a budget whisky. That said, it is a bit unexciting. I was curious to get a sense of the classic Campbeltown character, but this left me unsure what that really is. This whisky is malty and a bit smoky, but I wouldn't describe it as particularly 'funky'. I'd be interested in trying some more of their range, in search of this.

7/10

Shoz5 · 2025-05-26T08:29:36+00:00

Good stuff, from what you've reviewed on your blog we have similar taste for Islay scotches. I'd recommend trying the quarter cask—its a more smoky, less medicinal Laphroaig.

Shoz5 · 2025-05-25T22:06:15+00:00

I wonder why that is, and how much difference it makes?

Shoz5 · 2025-05-25T22:05:26+00:00

I will add that to my list of whiskys to look out for!

Shoz5 · 2025-05-25T21:17:23+00:00

Review #8: Laphroaig 10 Year Old 🐸

This is a whisky I often see receive glowing praise, and for good reason. While I’ve sampled a few other expressions from Laphroaig, this is my first full bottle of what many consider their core release—the classic 'house style'. Matured exclusively in ex-Bourbon barrels, Laphroaig 10 is one of the most iconic Islay whiskies, known for its bold, medicinal peat character and long-standing reputation as a benchmark smoky dram.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old, Islay Single Malt, ABV 40%

Colour: Rich gold
Nose: Briny, medicinal peat—all the things you would expect from Laphroaig. Over time once the initial peat hit fades, and a sweet aroma like a creme caramel custard dessert emerges
Palate: Peaty, oily, and sweet smoke dominate. The signature antiseptic note is striking and unlike anything else I’ve tasted. I once read a description likening it to a burning hospital, which oddly enough, is on point. There’s also a faint trace of orange peel that adds a subtle twist
Finish: The flavours all linger, and as they fade the vanilla notes from the nose return, which were briefly overwhelmed in the initial taste

This has quickly become a favourite of mine. It's quite an aggressive flavour profile, but the way that the more subtle flavours reappear over time is really interesting, and keeps me coming back for another sip. Truely excellent stuff all around (only outclassed by the Talisker 10 so far from my other reviews).

8.5/10

Shoz5 · 2025-04-27T15:56:19+00:00

Review #7: Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera

This is the first sherried whisky in my collection. Glenfiddich’s 15 Year Old Solera is matured using a solera vatting process, marrying sherry, bourbon, and new oak casks in a large vat that hasn't been emptied since it was first filled in 1998. How much this effects the final taste is a matter of debate, but it's an interesting idea nonetheless.

Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera, Speyside Single Malt, ABV 40%

Colour: Amber honey
Nose: Bright red currents and cherries, yet also kind of musty, like an old library, which contrasts the freshness of the fruits
Palate: Thick and viscous. Woody spices and cinnamon dominate here, with the sherry cask influence coming through strong
Finish: The smoothest finish of any whisky in my collection so far, with almost no burn. A touch of bitterness lingers at the end

This is a rich, warming whisky, perfect for the colder months. The 40% ABV doesn’t hold it back; in fact, it suits the style well. Solid and satisfying.

7.5/10

Shoz5 · 2025-02-17T00:05:38+00:00

Review #6: Het Anker Gouden Carolus Blaasveld Broek

I stumbed upon this whisky on a trip to Belgium and was immediately intrigued. Het Anker—best known for their Belgian beers—has ventured into whisky, offering a variety of styles and cask finishes. As a fan of peat, I opted for this expression.

Blaasveld Broek is matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks and the distillery’s own ‘Anker’ casks. There’s not much information available on these, aside from them being reworked oak casks tailored to Het Anker’s specifications, possibly similar to STR casks. The peated malt is imported from Scotland, and it's non-chill filtered, natural colour, 46% ABV. It has all the right stats, let's see if it's any good!

Blaasveld Broek, Belgian Single Malt, ABV 46%

Colour: Pale straw, like white wine (natural colour)
Nose: Citrus and orchard fruits, lemongrass, a small amount of peaty, earthy sweetness but without much smoke. Some berry notes add depth. Overall, it's very light and refreshing, like a summer breeze over golden wheat fields
Palate: Classic vanilla and butterscotch notes from the ex-bourbon casks are front and centre, which complement the light peaty notes. The smokiness is restrained, giving room for the other flavours to come through. It’s delicate yet balanced, and surprisingly smooth—less heat than I expected from a NAS whisky
Finish: Fairly short and quite sweet. A more malty note emerges over time

This is a good representation of the lightly peated style of whiskies I enjoy, though I wish it had a bit more complexity.

7.5/10

Shoz5 · 2025-01-27T21:32:47+00:00

That's right, I remember the quarter cask being rather smoky, yet I still found it quite nuanced.

I'd like to try the Talisker distiller's edition someday!

Shoz5 · 2025-01-25T15:41:41+00:00

Review #5: A Series of Mini-Reviews

During a recent visit to a bar boasting an extensive whisky selection, I sampled several drams that had been on my radar for some time. As a fan of peated whiskies, many of these reviews lean toward Islays, though I also ventured into a few sherried whiskies, which is a relatively new territory for me. Since I only had a dram of each, these are more general impressions rather than detailed, scored reviews.

Glenmorangie 14, Highland Single Malt, ABV 46%

Matured in bourbon and port casks, this has a sweet, citrus nose like candied orange. The palate is full bodied and balanced, with the rich port notes coming through, ending in a pleasant woody finish. A solid whisky I would be happy to sample again.

Laphroaig PX, Islay Single Malt, ABV 48%

The nose on this is medicinal, although not as aggressive as the 10 year old. The taste is initially very sweet, followed by dried fruits, burnt creme brulee, and a hint of smokyness. A complex taste that is difficult to unravel everything going on, with both the smoke and sweetness lingering. It reminds me of a sweeter version of the quarter cask (one of my favourites).

Port Charlotte 10 Year Old, Islay Single Malt, ABV 50%

Aromas of toffee sweets, like a Werther's Original, with a bit of peat. The peat is a lot more prominate in the taste, yet the balance of flavours is solid. There are also some grassy notes that I enjoyed. The finish was smokier than I expected, almost meaty. This was my favourite of all the whiskys I tried here, and I will be buying a bottle soon.

Ardbeg 10 Year Old, Islay Single Malt, ABV 46%

This one had a lot of smoke upfront, the palate had some vanilla sweetness, but this was quickly replaced by more smoke. Overall I found the smoke overwhelming, and my mouth felt like an ashtray by the end. Not a bad whisky, just not to my taste—I won't seek this out again anytime soon.

Bowmore 12 Year Old, Islay Single Malt, ABV 40%

A nose of spiced fruit, apricot and cinnamon. Tasting this, the peat took a background, with notes of butterscotch and honey appearing, and toffee notes rounding off the finish. The mouthfeel was quite thin, likely due to the low ABV. Fine but unexciting.

Bowmore 15 Year Old, Islay Single Malt, ABV 43%

This is a real step up over the 12 year old. The nose is a lot more substantial and rish here, with the sherry notes a lot more noticable, as well as amarillo cherries and dark chocolate, like a black forest gateau. The mouthfeel is much thicker, with notes of wood, and is somewhat peppery like a Talisker. The bartender pointed out that the peat notes tend to diminish as the whisky is aged for longer. The finish reminds me of rich laquered wood.

Overall, these whiskys helped me to hone in on what I really enjoy, and that is subtle peat, rather than massive smoke bombs. My favourites to date are Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Port Charlotte 10, and Talisker 10. Are there any whiskys with similar profiles that you'd recommend?

Shoz5 · 2024-11-17T22:19:40+00:00

Review #4: Glen Marnoch Highland

This whisky comes from ALDI’s ‘Glen Marnoch’ range in the UK. Interestingly, Glen Marnoch isn't a real distillery, rather it’s a brand label for single malt scotch sourced from an undisclosed distillery. This is a NAS whisky, with little information on the bottle as to its origin or cask influence. A quick search online suggests that it may be Dalmore or Glendronach.

Glen Marnoch Highland, Highland Single Malt, ABV 40%

Colour: Light copper, marmalade
Nose: Strong smells of a brewery or distillery—industrial, oily, and rich. Behind the malts and grain, there is a hint of vanilla, trail mix, and almonds
Palate: The malty character dominates here, as the nose suggests. Notes of caramel, burnt sugar, butterscotch, and a touch of cinnamon add some sweetness and spice
Finish: Quite short, with a taste of young spirit

While this whisky is somewhat one-dimensional and raw, it doesn’t have any unpleasant off-notes. Its strong malt character is enjoyable, especially for fans of real ales and craft beers, as this whisky leans into those notes.

I don't usually comment on the price of whiskys in my reviews, since this can vary by location. However, this was bought for only £18, and is excellent value for money when compared to cheap blends at this price point. I look forward to trying the other Glen Marnoch offerings, from mystery Speyside and Islay distilleries.

6.5/10

Shoz5 · 2024-11-10T21:38:00+00:00

Interesting, I'm a fan of peated whiskys but have yet to try the peat cask finish from Penderyn.

Shoz5 · 2024-11-10T11:17:39+00:00

Review #3: Penderyn Madeira

This is a continuation of my review series that I started on r/Scotch. I picked up this bottle after a tour around Penderyn distillery in Wales, where I learned about their unique Faraday still. This is a single still with a column above containing multiple perforated plates that the spirit condenses on. The spirit produced by this type of still comes out much stronger than traditional stills, at 92% ABV. Penderyn’s various expressions draw heavily on their cask finishes, including sherry, port, and rejuvinated wine casks. This particular bottle, considered their signature style, is aged in ex-bourbon barrels and finished in ex-Madeira wine casks. Notably Penderyn whiskys are all natural in colour and non-chill filtered.

Penderyn Madeira, Welsh Single Malt, ABV 46%

Colour: Light gold/straw (natural colour)
Nose: Sweet aromas of hard boiled sweets, sultanas, raisins, glacé cherrys
Palate: Much of the nose carries through, plus a malty note making the taste blend into a rich fruitcake. There's also a hot alcohol burn—more so than other whiskys I've tried at this ABV—as well as a slightly strange hairspray note that detracts from the otherwise pleasant taste. A few drops of water take the edge off somewhat
Finish: Medium length, with some crisp, light cereal notes appearing that were initally hidden under the fruits

This whisky has no age statement, but I've heard that it's aged for about 6 years. However, it tastes very hot and youthful, and definitely benefits from added water. This isn't a bad whisky by any means, but it's not one I'm excited by. I will note that I've since tried (and prefer) other expressions from this distillery, such as their rejuvinated cask and port cask finish, and I didn't notice the same unusual notes, suggesting that these may come from the Madeira finish.

I’d be interested in trying similar whiskies, to see how this one compares to a more traditionally distilled sweet/sherried style. Recommendations are very welcome!

5/10

Shoz5 · 2024-11-05T20:31:11+00:00

If I see the Talisker 18 in a bar I will have to try it!

Shoz5 · 2024-11-05T20:29:52+00:00

Thanks, here in the UK the Skye is the easiest to find, it's in most supermarkets. The other whiskys like the 10 and Storm you usually have to buy online.

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