Whisky review: A dram for all budgets - from Rosebank 31-year-old to supermarket buys
In mid-July Benromach Distillery in Speyside announced it was launching its second annual release of Benromach 40-year-old, with just over 1,000 bottles of this rare, single malt available to enthusiasts globally.
The launch follows a prestigious award win for Benromach 40-year-old, priced at £2,000 a bottle, at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2022, where it won ‘Best in Show’.
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Hide AdNow, those watching the comings and goings of Rosebank Distillery will be pleased to know the team have launched a rare bottling drawn from casks that were salvaged before the distillery’s untimely closure in the early 1990s.


The 31-year-old is composed of scarce stocks from just before the Falkirk site was mothballed in 19‘93. The 31-year-old Rosebank is a little less expensive than the Benromach, coming in at £1,800.
But what about those of us who’d like a good dram, but don’t have thousands to spend? Well, it is possible to get an award-winning whisky for £50 or under. This year’s Whisky Masters saw the Lowlands region being the top area of whisky production for budget-friendly single malts. Top-scoring options were discovered in both the premium subcategory (under £50) and the super-premium subcategory (under £100).
Some of these – and other regions – award-winning budget drams include Lauder's 15-year-old, Clydebuilt Shipwright from Ardgowan Distillery Company, Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Scotch Whisky: Triple Distilled, and Benromach Contrasts: Organic and Kilchoman Sanaig – an organic single malt.
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Hide AdConsumers can also pick up a budget award-winning whisky from Lidl or Aldi, as their offering consistently scores highly in national awards. Lidl has won multiple awards for its range of whiskies, including their 16-year-old Islay Ben Bracken, which was launched in late 2020 and is priced at £34.99.
Over at Aldi, their 12-year-old Glen Marnoch single malt, which is priced at £19.99, is ideal for those looking for a bargain.
So no matter what your budget this summer and beyond, you can still enjoy a great dram. Cheers.
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