WHISKEY is going against the grain – with a modern makeover in an array of wacky flavours.
Discounter Aldi recently launched its peanut butter whiskey liqueur, a rival to the pricier best-selling Sheep Dog brand, and there are other unexpected tastes on offer too – including banana.
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These syrupy treats lend themselves perfectly to cocktails as well as after-dinner shots on the rocks.
Helena Nicklin, from thethreedrinkers.com, samples Aldi’s new whiskey liqueur and six other brands’ flavoured tipples and gives each her verdict out of five.
Sheep Dog peanut butter flavour liqueur with whiskey
70cl, 35% ABV, £22, amazon.co.uk
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THE original mix of butterscotch and booze works. Not so buttery when you sip, but with a decent nutty vibe this smells and tastes like a tipsy Snickers bar.
It is sweet and nougaty, with a caramel silkiness and a little salt.
You can sip this neat over ice or splash in some Baileys for the full chocolate bar on the rocks effect.
RATING: 4/5
Aldi peanut butter flavour whiskey liqueur
50cl, 35% ABV, £12.99, Aldi
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ALDI has created an admirable Sheep Dog dupe and it’s half the price.
The discounter’s tipple is lighter in body and simpler in flavour than the expensive original but it is very easy to drink.
This elegant blend does really well with mixology, so try it in a peanut butter & jelly cocktail with a pinch of sea salt and a dash of cherry liqueur.
RATING: 3/5
Jameson Irish whiskey with natural orange flavour
70cl, 30% ABV, £23.50, Sainsbury’s
WITH a big name in grain behind it, the smooth, triple distilled Jameson Irish whiskey is blended with a lot of zesty natural orange flavour.
Smelling like spicy Cointreau with a strong, 1980s cordial vibe it is sweet and supple with a long, bitter orange peel finish.
Sip over ice or in a chocolate-orange Old Fashioned with chocolate bitters and dark choc shavings on the rim.
RATING: 3/5
Jim Beam Red Stag black cherry liquer
70cl, 32.5% ABV, £13, Asda
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I WAS looking forward to tasting this but, sadly, it is more “gag” than Stag.
The makers say it has “notes of fine Kentucky Jim Beam,” which is an odd description, like they are ashamed to call it Jim Beam… The cherry taste is subtle and it tastes like cough syrup.
Fairly sweet and a bit off balance, this should be mixed in a fruity cocktail or with lots of ginger beer.
RATING: 1/5
Howler Head Monkey Spirit whiskey with banana liqueur
70cl, 40% ABV, £30, tesco.com
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WITH its higher ABV and premium packaging I had high hopes for this and it didn’t disappoint.
As soon as you get a sniff on the nose you know it’s decent Kentucky bourbon and then there is just the right amount of banana, like those nostalgic foam yellow sweets.
On top of that there is a drizzle of caramel. Well balanced and not too sweet.
RATING: 5/5
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey with apple liqueur
70cl, 35% ABV, £26, tesco.com
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THIS reminds me of sour apple Nerds sweets and cartons of apple juice, but not at all unpleasant.
This Jack Daniel’s Tennessee tipple is subtle on the whiskey and definitely needs a mixer in the glass, but it will absolutely sing combined with ginger ale or ginger beer.
It would also make fabulous cocktails, especially apple whiskey sours.
RATING: 3
Lucky Sod toffee, caramel & vanilla liqueur with whiskey
70cl, 29% ABV, £24.44, amazon.co.uk
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THERE’S very little whiskey taste here but the resulting tipple is still ridiculously moreish, like a sticky-toffee pudding in a glass.
Think salted caramel toffee with a sprinkling of nuts, baking spice and vanilla.
I’d pour it over ice cream for an extremely indulgent dessert.
Whoever gets gifted a bottle of this really is a Lucky Sod.
RATING: 5
