Aldi’s own-label Glen Marnoch Islay Single Malt Whisky has taken home a top accolade at the Great Taste Awards 2024.
Scoring the highest star rating - 3- Stars, when it put to the test in the world’s biggest food and drink awards, the Glen Marnoch Whisky beat a host of pricier competitors within its category.
These include premium brand, Johnnie Walker, which received 1-Star for its Master’s Cut Whisky. This limited edition bottling retails at £1,000 for a bottle and was launched in early July.
Recognised as a stamp of excellence and actively sought out by food lovers and retailers alike, Great Taste, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, values taste above all else.
All products in the line-up for judging are blind tasted: every product is removed from its packaging so it cannot be identified, before entering a robust, layered judging process.
Great Taste is the world’s largest and most trusted food and drink accreditation scheme. Putting food or drink to the test with its panel of over 500 experts is a quick way to get honest, straightforward and impartial feedback from buyers, food and drink writers and retailers.
With only 2% of the 13,000 products entered gaining the highly sought after 3-Star seal of approval, Aldi’s dram was described by judges as ‘a superb example of the brash characteristics of Islay Malt Whisky – its beautiful smoked notes were incredibly well balanced and complex.’
The Aldi whisky cabinet has continued to grow from strength to strength, having taken home 26 wins across drinks awards and competitions in the last 12 months. What’s more, Aldi’s spirits range also scooped up five 2-Star ratings and six 1-Star ratings across, gins, vodkas, whiskies and liqueurs within this year’s Great Taste Awards.
Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “We are so proud to be adding the prestigious black and gold Great Taste badge of honour to our list of own-brand achievements.
"Our ‘whisky cabinet’ has been positively recognised by industry bodies over recent years, but Great Taste is THE accolade for taste and quality in the drink industry - it’s the ultimate achievement for us this year”.
The only other Scotch whisky to be awarded 3-Stars was Elements of Islay Sherry Cask from Elixir Distillers, who will open their Islay distillery next year.
Other 1-Star awards for whisky went to Quiet Rebels from Nc'nean Distillery, Stranraer Oyster Festival Blended Malt Scotch from ark Sky Spirits and RAER Blended Scotch Whisky Oloroso Expression from Raer Scotch Whisky Limited.
The full list of this year’s winners can be found online and a wide range of the award-winning products are available to buy in delis, farm shops and independent retail outlets.
