Whisky Forum - Best supermarket Islay?

Arthur · New Member Joined: 31 Jan 2013 Posts: 1

Hi there,

I see most of the supermarkets are doing own brand aged malts for around Â£20. As a Lagavulin fan I'm wondering if any of the own brand Islays are a good value substitute and which is best?

Arthur[/list]

bifter · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:50 pm Post subject:

I've tried Sainsburys TTD Islay though I got it half price at Â£13.79 and I haven't seen it since so it may have been being discontinued. It was a 50cl bottle, 46%, 12yo, NCF supplied by Ian McLeod and nice for the price but not worth the full asking. Most people here reckoned it was closest to Caol Ila.

They also do a cheaper 12yo Islay in a 70cl bottle at 40%, some people reckoned it was the same stuff but more diluted and chill-filtered. At Â£20.49 that would make it a reasonable buy but I can't claim to have tried it.
_________________
"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw]

Mark · Master Of Malts Joined: 27 Sep 2006 Posts: 1664

Welcome to the forum Arthur.

I have never come across any of the big peaty Islay styles like Lagavulin, Laphroaig or Ardbeg in of the supermarket bottlings. i wish i had it would save me a small fortune.

In my experience most supermarket bottlings are like a lightlly peated Bunnahabhain or Caol ila.

My choice of the supermarket own label Islay malts would be Sainsburys 12 year old or Tesco Islay 12 year old which last time i had it i could swear it was Caol ila in the bottle.

To be honest they are all light smoky whiskies and good value for money.

rlemkin · Single Malt Member Joined: 09 Sep 2012 Posts: 71

I bought a bottle of the 70cl TTD Sainsbury's Islay the other day and really like it. Couldn't guess what it is, a sweeter Caol Ila? Preferred it to the standard 12 anyway..

Found a wee blog on it too
http://dramstats.*/2013/01/27/sainsburys-taste-the-difference-islay-12-year-old-single-malt-whisky/

Cuba · Master Of Malts Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 296

In my experience what is in the supermarket bottles can change from time to time depending on where the supermarket have sourced each batch. All that i have had has always been very drinkable. As others say above you cant go wrong with Sainsburys or Tesco bottlings. It is a long time since i have had an Asda own label Islay malt, do they still do one?