Abrachan Whisky Review

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, nobody ever sends me any free drams, so you can rest assured that this Abrachan whisky review is true and unbiased. I bought the bottle myself from Lidl. In fact, without giving the game away too early, I’ve actually bought a few bottles of Abrachan blended malt whisky over the last year. Does it beat out Lidl’s other budget efforts such as Ben Bracken though? The budget retailer is gathering quite the reputation for well-priced Scotch, so I thought I’d give Abrachan a whirl.

Abrachan Whisky Review

Being a blend of different Scotches and nothing else, this is Abrachan whisky rather than Abrachan whiskey, and if the name didn’t give it away, the description certainly will. It’s listed as “peated and smoky”. Despite that, Abrachan is actually a blend of Speyside and Highland malts, rather than the Islays you might expect from such adjectives.

Lidl launched Abrachan in 2021, though a little nosey around their website shows a silver Scotch Whisky Masters award for Abrachan back in 2018, presumably for its time-travelling credentials as well as its nose and palate.

A little root around the comment sections of whisky pages shows a couple of people who remember there being a previous incarnation of Abrachan. Whether this was the same as the current version is a mystery lost to the sands of time though. If any of you venerable readers have tried both, or know the answer to this, then please drop a comment below.

Abra-dabra-chadabran, I Wanna Reach Out and Grab Ya

As with most of these things, there’s no distillery named Abrachan, nor is there even any Scottish town with the same name. Instead the moniker supposedly comes from a fire-breathing beast that villagers tolerated because the scorched earth it left behind made the whisky tastier.

Hmm. Taste aside, there’s a strong smell of BS about that. I’d keep my eye out for any Lidl marketing execs self-publishing a fantasy fiction series.

 

How Much is Abrachan Whisky?

In a world where we now have to consider remortgaging the house before we boil a kettle, there’s something reassuring in finding a bottle of Abrachan blended malt whisky at an unwavering £15.99. It’s never going to get any cheaper than that, but let’s keep our fingers crossed that it doesn’t increase in price in the future.

On the Nose

I’m often worried when I pick up a Speyside or Highland malt, that it won’t be peaty enough for me, so I was able to breathe a sigh of relief when opening this blend up and being greeted with a peat hit straightaway. It’s not overwhelming though, and there’s plenty to pick out here: cherries, paprika, the timber section in B&Q, Fry’s Turkish Delight, and peppery salad leaves all whizzed around my nostrils.

On the Palate

It’s young and sharp, but in a good way. There’s a strong coffee and chocolate undercurrent to it too. Not milk chocolate though, think instead along the lines of a very dark chocolate being bitter rather than sweet. This is a savoury dram, and not at all sweet or vanilla-led as you might expect from a blend containing a decent amount of Speyside whiskies. There’s a slight metallic edge to it, but overall it’s very ashy.

 

Is Abrachan Blended Malt Whisky Suitable for Sipping Neat?

Yes. Despite my description of it being a little sharp, and having a metallic and ashy edge, I quite enjoyed it. A drop of water soon opens it up and gets you past any obvious youth of the drink.

Is Abrachan Whisky Suitable for Mixing?

Sure, why not. Make sure that your cocktail or mixer plays well with more savoury notes like pepper and peat though. This is not one to use if you’re going for a fruity or vanilla accent.

Abrachan Whisky Review – Verdict

This Scotch is squarely aimed at a very particular element of the whisky-drinking public, and that’s those who enjoy a savoury and peaty dram. Those expecting any floral or vanilla notes from the Highland and Speyside whiskies used will be disappointed. Islay lovers who like a robust peppery drink that slaps them about a bit, however, will be very pleased, especially for the price.

As mentioned earlier, I’ve already got through a few of these bottles in quick succession, even opting for a bottle over Ben Bracken on the odd occasion. I wouldn’t say it’s better than Ben Bracken, but it does fulfil a slightly different need: eschewing the vegetal qualities of its Islay stablemate in favour of a peppery coffee hit.

It’s plenty rough around the edges, but if you don’t mind that in a dram, then there’s plenty to enjoy here. For £15.99 as well, it’s easily the cheapest drinkable Scotch you can get hold of.

In order to commemorate this unique taste memory, some personalized small items can meet the needs of whiskey lovers, such as Custom Enamel Pins. 

You can design these enamel pins into the shape of whiskey, and then incorporate some whiskey elements, unique years, etc. Such personalized pins are not only practical but also can evoke your memories of this whiskey-tasting experience in the future. 

Whether you want to commemorate it yourself or give it to friends who also like whiskey, custom enamel pins are a good choice.

You’ll Probably like Abrachan Whisky if You Already Like…

Highland Park 10 Viking Scars, Ben Bracken Islay, Laphroig Select

Whilst you’re in Lidl, you may as well check out this Ben Bracken Islay review too!

Deliberating on the best budget Scotches? Don’t forget Aldi’s Glen Marnoch.

Asda are trying to get in on the act too. See how their own brand Islay shapes up.