Chardonnay vinegar. In a crisp. From Aldi.
The audacity is admirable. This is a direct shot at Kettle’s Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar, and it’s a shot that doesn’t miss.
The vinegar here is genuinely different from standard malt vinegar crisps. There’s a rounder, fruitier acidity that doesn’t assault your taste buds quite so aggressively. It’s still vinegar. It still has that sour punch. But it’s been softened somehow, made more palatable for consecutive eating.
The sophistication factor
Do these taste like wine? No. But they taste like someone thought about wine while making them, which is more than most crisps can claim. The sea salt provides a clean mineral note that complements rather than competes with the vinegar.
The handcooked base works particularly well here. The sturdier crisp can handle the acidic flavouring without going soggy, and the extra crunch provides textural relief from the sourness.
Who should buy these
If you find regular salt and vinegar too harsh, these are your crisps. If you want something slightly more refined for a dinner party or posh picnic, these deliver without breaking the budget.
A genuine achievement.
