ALDI London Dry Gin

Price:
£14.19 - 1L
​£9.97 - 70cl

Aldi Gin is quickly gaining notoriety amongst savvy gin enthusiasts as a real gem of a product. From discussions amongst colleagues at work, articles in newspapers like the Independent and even prestigious spirit awards, it's hard not to have heard something positive about this spirit. But is it any good?

The first thing that struck me was the price - it's very competitively priced, and a cut below all branded rivals. The second thing that struck we was that the packaging and presentation which is clearly taking shot at the market leader in the London Dry gin category, Gordon's. 

With so many different styles of gin on offer in supermarkets these days, it's worth noting that this is very distinctively a "London Dry" gin, and fans of more floral or herbal gins are likely to be disappointed. If your gin of choice however is something along the lines of Gordon's or Beefeater, then this is certainly a product worth considering. The alcohol percentage of 37.5% matches Gordon's and the smell as you open the bottle is comfortingly similar to those who have a familiarity with London Dry gin. 

Taste wise, the similarities continue, without being a carbon copy of Gordon's. The gin certainly has juniper front as centre as does Gordon's, but to my taste, it's slightly more harsh with a little more burn. Pulling the tonic water out, this gin makes a very decent G&T, and with a good tonic and a twist of citrus, the differences with its pricier rivals almost disappear. 

More high end cocktails such as a Negroni and a Martini highlight the weaknesses of this gin, and I would certainly recommend something more expensive and smooth if these are the types of drink you enjoy. As a substitute for Gordon's for simple, straightforward G&T's or for throwing into a shaker for something like a Long Island Iced Tea, this gin is highly recommended. My final experiment with this gin involved pouring some into a Kilner jar over sugar and freshly picked sloes. The result of which you'll have to wait 2-3 months for!

In summary - Highly recommended as a substitute for Gordon's or other branded London Dry gins, but doesn't hold up well compared to more bespoke craft style rivals, which is probably exactly what the intended market of the product is.