Oban 14 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Distillery
Founded in the small fishing town of Oban back in 1794, the spirit for Oban 14 has been produced the same way since the distillery was established. The distillery itself sits in the heart of the town — not because it was a good location, but because the town was essentially built around it.
Oban has only two pot stills, making it one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland, producing a whisky described as having a "West Highland" flavor that falls between the dry, smoky style of the Scottish islands and the lighter, sweeter malts of the Highlands.
The Expression
The Oban 14 Year Old is the distillery's flagship expression. It is distilled from lightly-peated malt, aged in refill ex-Bourbon casks, chill-filtered, and bottled at 43% ABV. It was named one of the six Classic Malts of Scotland, a selection created by Diageo in 1988, and is among the most enduring and universally loved entry points in all of Scotch whisky.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Lovely sweet aromas of toffee and sticky pudding greet the nose. There's smoke, but it's definitely subtle — more a waft than a plume. A surprising amount of tropical fruit also comes through — caramelized pineapple and plantains, lychee, orange — plus a dusting of zesty cinnamon and nutmeg. Warming and sweet: oily, waxy and nutty, balanced by delicate ripe orchard fruits. Then lighter notes of an almondy fruit cake sit atop a denser layer of Christmas pudding, with malty cereal notes offset by aromatic orange.
Palate: The initial entry brings rich buttercream sweetness, quickly followed by tinned fruit cocktail, pineapple, orange, and lychee with a strong caramelized element. Sherry-like flavors of almond emerge in the mid-palate, accompanied by some nice crunchy sea salt. Apricots, peaches, sea salt, stem ginger, and subtle wildflowers, grounded by mineral notes of white stone and smooth pebbles — with an oily texture that complements those hallmark stone fruits.
Finish: Sweet and lush overall, finishing on a welcome bright, acidic note — like apple cider with lemon, or brioche topped with zingy lemon curd. Good length, with fruit and dry oak.