[November, 2019] I am not sure if my observation is statistically right but it seems as if no-name and cheap bottles got much weaker rates here at WB than bottles from well-known distilleries that are sold at high prices. But the times when the price of a bottle reflected its inherit (drinking) quality are long gone and there are a lot of questionable (from a drinker's perspective) highly-priced drams released these days. On the other side you can find reasonable priced bottlings of great quality and quaffability too, with a little luck. Will this Lidl-release be one of them...

...and it is, without any doubt. If you like fruity-honeyed Speyside drams with a good balance (not too woody) and a high Q-factor (quaffability) this one is for you. I am pretty sure this one is from the Tomintoul distillery, not just because of the flavours profile (and rather low price) but the Tomintoul owners (Angus Dundee) are the main whisky suppliers for all the big discount store chains worldwide. They own huge warehouses with casks from almost all distilleries (via swaps with Tomintoul) and the facilities to do very large batches of blends, vatted malts or (even) single malts if requested. A nice market niche, and they can select the rather below-average casks for the cheap blends and use the better casks for (no-name) single malt bottlings like this one.

To be honest, I like this 28-years old Tomintoul very much. This is a real bargain these days (for drinkers, I guess collectors and investors are not interested in no-name Lidl releases) so go for it if you do not own the deep pockets for 25+years old original distillery releases and you like fruity Speyside drams with a balanced (not wood-driven) profile.

[December, 2019] I just noticed that Lidl now sells a different batch L 44 7 7 instead of L 44 7 1 which shows a slightly darker colour and owns more wooden notes than the batch I reviewed. I score the new batch two points lower at 87 points (88-87-86) but still it is a good deal for your bucks.

glenfarclas 25 has always been a price cracker with its 90-110€. but this has a even better price performance ratio altough its not as refined and the caskwork is rather restrained. it shows IB not OB style.

however, blind you would get/guess something between a glenfarclas 25 and knockando 21+.
its just good. I drank 3x2cl but my original plan was to drink 1x2cl. just couldn't stop.

Lidl shows us, that good whisky doesnt have to be expensive and ultra rare rare special. its damn good whisky to drink and aint that the point?

A whisky for the drinker, not for the collector. This is possibly the best value for money whisky I've had to date.

Slight conflict. The malt shows age, is tasty, but also fresh and sometimes looks younger. In a positive sense, highly unspectacular. Simply good whisky, with a lot of age for the money, even if you shouldn't expect too much in terms of taste. Solid sipper.

Surprisingly good!