Aldi gin wins big in blind taste test

Budget supermarket Aldi can add another accolade to its name, after being given a silver medal at the International Spirits Challenge awards. Aldi's Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin retails for just £9.99 and received the award in a blind taste test.

The affordably priced spirit even beat premium brand Masons Dry Yorkshire Gin, which sells for almost five times the amount.

This isn't the first time the Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin has been praised, and this is in fact its fourth award in the last 12 months alone - having also taken Bronze at the 2015 International Wine and Spirits Competition.

The Cromwell gin is described as having a 'ripe, citrus aroma with rounded spice and a touch of juniper'.

The gin industry is certainly booming in the UK at the moment, with 49 new distilleries having opened in 2015. UK gin sales are predicted to top £1 billion for the first time ever this year.

Aldi has definitely felt the force of the UK's ever increasing gin industry, with an additional 77,000 bottles sold year-on-year.

The house gin wasn't the only Aldi alcohol to triumph at the awards. They also won a Gold medal and two Silver medals for their vodkas and liqueurs.

Aldi's Specially Selected Crème de Cassis won the gold medal. The budget liqueur beat the likes of Drambuie 15 to claim the title.

In June last year the supermarket's whisky was also praised, winning two gold medals at two separate competitions.

The Highland Black 8 year old Scotch Whisky, which retails for £12.99, won the blind taste test at the International Spirit Challenge and scored second place at the Spirits Business Scotch Whisky Masters awards.

The budget brand's whisky beat off some strong competition to win the accolade, including the £75 per bottle Glen Ord 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky.