Many Australians will be familiar with retail giant ALDI’s budget food prices.
And while savvy shoppers know to keep a keen eye peeled for a bargain, what they might not know is the brand also stocks a range of top-shelf award winning spirits.
Recently, the brand put up a selection of its finest tipples to be judged at the International Sip Awards – and took out a total of nine prizes, including gold for its gin.
Their Darley gin, which costs shoppers a mere $28.99, received the same medal as a competitor gin that retails for three times the price.
ALDI’s Darley Gin (pictured left) retails for $28.99. It took out gold at the international awards. Their whisky (pictured right), which sells for $34.99, took a top-shelf win with a Platinum award
The gin it tied with was an Australian product, Archie Rose Distillers Strength Gin, which retails for $96.90
‘With a depth of character featuring delicately balanced Juniper flavours, Darley’s Traditional Dry Gin is a refreshing, balanced and classic style gin,’ reads product information about the award-winning drop.
The German supermarket chain also held its own in a number of other categories at the spirit-tasting competition.
Its Highland Black 8 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky celebrated a major win for the chain, taking home a Platinum award.
Priced at $34.99, the affordable whisky, described as ‘rich and malty with honey, toffee, caramel and oak wood smokey flavours’ has previously won a slew of other prestigious prizes.
ALDI’s Bluegrass Bourbon (pictured left) priced at $29.99 and it’s Baroque Brandy (pictured right) priced at $26.99 took Gold at the international awards.
These include Double Gold at the 2017 Melbourne International Spirits Challenge, as well as the best-in-class Masters award at both the 2014 and 2016 Scotch Whisky Masters.
ALDI scooped the pool with a raft of other wins too.
Its Tamova Vodka, priced at $27.99 took Gold, as did its Bluegrass Bourbon, priced at $29.99 and its Baroque Brandy, priced at budget-busting $26.99.
The international spirit competition is unique in that those judging are consumers with the products judged through blind taste test
The international spirit competition is unique in that those judging are consumers with the products judged through blind taste tests.
‘The SIP Awards are a fantastic opportunity for ALDI to put our spirits in front of our most important critic – the consumer,’ said Paul Handley, Liquor Buying Director at ALDI Australia.
‘At the end of the day, we know our customers are looking for a top quality product without the hefty price tag, and these results show we’re continuing to deliver on that promise.’