Forget the belief that you have to spend a fortune for the best-quality drinks; a number of budget supermarkets have been winning awards for their own brand wines and spirits – beating rivals that cost up to four times more. We've rounded up some award-winning tipples that all cost less than £15, with some even available for as little as £5.99.
Gin:
The Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin from Aldi won a gold medal at the 2017 International Wine and Spirits competition in the London Dry category. The purse-friendly spirit cost £9.99 and beat off top competition to take the top prize, with the second place going to Foxhole London Dry Gin, which costs almost four times the price at £39.95.
Vodka:
If you're more of a vodka fan, head to Lidl for their Vodka Putinoff Platinum 5 quintuple distilled 40%, which won a gold award at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Judges noted that the spirit had a "full and flowing texture, creamy in mouthful, like melted ice cream", and it costs just £9.99 for 50cl.
Whisky:
You don't have to splash out for a high-quality whisky. Aldi recently won a silver award for its Highland Black Blended Scotch Whisky at the International Spirits Challenge. The whisky, which is available for £12.99, was described as "a rich blend of the finest grain and malt whiskies from Scotland".
Sparkling Wine:
Whether you're celebrating or just love a glass of fizz, head to Lidl for a £7.99 bottle of Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc NV, which won a "Silver Outstanding" award at the International Wine and Spirits Competition alongside the significantly pricier Veuve Clicquot 2008 vintage Champagne.
Red Wine:
Tesco's finest* Viña del Cura Rioja Reserva 2012 recently won a Gold award at the International Wine Challenge Awards 2017, and was also voted best value red wine. The £8.50 bottle was the only supermarket-own label Rioja to win a medal.
Rosé Wine:
Aldi is the place to go if you love a glass of rosé. The budget supermarket picked up a silver medal at The International Wine Challenge for its £5.99 rosé wine, the Exquisite Collection Côtes De Provence 2016. The budget wine was praised for its flavours of "strawberry, white fruit and subtle spice".
White Wine:
For less than £10 you can sample an award-winning white wine. Morrisons The Best Rioja Reserva Blanco 2011 won an award at the International Wine Awards – and it's only £8.99 a bottle!
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