Oban 2006 Distillers Edition (Bottled 2020)

OBAN SHOWDOWN Oban 14 Oban Distiller’s Edition Oban 18 Oban sometimes gets a bad rap because of its gentleness (I say this in particular about Oban 14), which leads some to proclaim it as a “beginner’s” scotch—as if an approachable whisky is mutually exclusive from one that could be enjoyed by a more experienced imbiber. Whisky afficionados shouldn’t conflate gentleness with simplicity, which Oban 14 is not; rather, it is subtle and refined, and requires some attention to tease out its complexity. Perhaps the Oban Distiller’s Edition, which was first released about 25 years ago, and the Oban Little Bay, which was first released about eight years ago, are responses to the market leaning towards power rather than finesse. But I digress. Oban 14 Color is a clear version of Pantone 138 (I have no affiliation with Pantone, but am using it in an attempt to achieve a little more visual precision). The nose is pear paradise: pear purée, pear nectar, pear tart. Then saline, hay, some very light peat, and a subtle not-quite-smokiness that is perhaps closer to a cured meat, like speck. The palate has a creamy mouthfeel, with sweet honey, and a floral gardenia quality, if the smell of that flower could be tasted. There is a long finish with salt, a pinch of pepper dust and some spicy oak. Joyous. 43% ABV. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. Oban Distiller’s Edition I’ve always enjoyed the sherry-finished Distiller’s Editions of Diageo’s single-malt whiskies. Color is the darkest of the three, nearer to Pantone 152. But this is not due to the sherry aging, as the sherry here is Fino, which is far lighter than the more commonly used Olorosso. The Distiller’s Edition is a weightier expression, occupying a sort of middle ground between the 14 and 18 in nose, palate, and finish. The nose is near to a peach cobbler, with a reminder of breakfast bacon continuing to waft through the kitchen. The palate maintains a light glycerin, and salty sweetness continues on the finish. 2021 bottling. Identical 43% ABV. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. Oban 18 Color is a touch darker than the Oban 14; more like Pantone 145. This is a fuller, rounder version of the Oban 14—but at the expense of the 14’s vibrancy, not unlike an aged wine. What was once a bouquet of fruity pears has morphed into a cozy mélange of baked pears and applesauce, sprinkled with brown sugar. The palate is creamy like the 14, with a sweetness less honey and more sorghum, and a finish with fine pepper more muted than the 14, along with fine leathery dryness. Only four extra years in a cool, damp climate, but the difference is noticeable. If Oban is a feminine whisky, this is an older version of the same beautiful young woman; each has their charms. Identical 43% ABV. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. On the whole, I prefer the younger Oban 14 over the Distiller’s edition and its older 18-year expression. The 14 drinks as if it’s at the height of its charms; its two older siblings aren’t as lithe and sprightly. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Nose: Oily cereal, peaches, vanilla, fresh wood, crushed dandelions, mustard, a trace of fortified wine. There is no peat smoke at all. Great nose 86/100 Palate: Spicy (ginger), very oily cereal and malt flavours. Grassy and herbaceous notes in the development (hay, tumeric, mustard greens, cress) together with a some bitter, astringent citrus pith and salinity. The texture is full and weighty. 83/100 Finish: Medium. Grassy cereal notes with chilli and ginger spice. There is a briny quality to the aftertaste. 83/100 This whisky is dynamically cask-driven, the mantilla fino finish contributing a great deal to its character. There is a grassy dryness and austerity on the palate that shouts “fino”, and after nosing the whisky several times this also comes through on the aromas. The nose has a pleasant woody note but it’s not as light and raw as pencil shavings nor as mature as old oak casks. It has sweetness and depth contributed by the fino but also a light, crisp character. It’s like a timberyard stacked with trimmed logs ready for the mill. In previous tastings of Oban Distillers Edition I’ve always found a subtle thread of smoke but that is completely absent here, and I can’t say I’m disappointed. It’s great to smell the bouquet without any occluding smoke. There is, however, a slight disconnect between the nose and palate as the nose is sweeter and deeper and it set you up to expect a particular palate profile that is then not delivered. What it does give is good, but unexpectedly spicy and dry. Still, it is a good whisky and one that would be particularly enjoyable as an aperitif. Tasted from a 30ml sample. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)

I can't deny a free dram, specially when it is a special limited release. A friend of mine gave me this Oban 2006 Distiller's Edition, one of Diageo's yearly releases. I recently went to Oban distillery and it was gorgeous. Their whiskies have never blown my mind, but i have to say i do like them a lot. This is a 43%abv bottling. On the nose, it doesn't give me an "Oban" profile at all. Mashed apples, stewed apples, super fresh. After some minutes it released this latex aroma, like a water balloon. On the palate, it is a little straightforward but rather nice. Apples in every way possible: mashed, stewed, peeled, etc. Aftertaste is where i finally found the famous Oban Salt. Salty, apples and sider. Overall, this is the most average dram ever. It is safe, it is enjoyable, it is a bit boring and it won't change anyone's lives. Having said that, this is balanced but very simple. I know that most whisky drinkers might find this Oban to be "smooth", but that is a term that we, whisky enthusiasts, don't like too much. My score for it is a fair 84 over 100.

A beautiful and wild nose. Sweet and fruity sherry notes weigh against crips raw highland notes. Wild berries as well as a few exotic fruit aromas form an interesting melange on the nose supported by a nice oak. Later cinnamon and mild grapefruit. The palate is incredibly sweet. At the moment I can’t recall any whisky being this sweet. But it still manages to deliver distinct mature flavors along that with oak, sour fruit-candy and a lot of intense roasted nuts. Some citrus oil and bitter herbals. Nice. The finish is quite long but in my eyes the weakest part to this whisky. Not bad but very distinct and too harsh in a way that it doesn’t match with my personal taste. All in all a fine dram. I like it better than I remember the regular 14y and also than the Nights Watch GoT version ... and way better than Little Bay. So this far it is the best Oban I had. If only the finish was more enjoyable.

Glencairn, neat. Color: Medium gold. Aroma: Singular profile of cereals; with a swirl I get hints of vanilla and butterscotch. Somewhat underwhelming. Taste: Slight burn up front that fades to oily at the back. Malty cereals with notes of brine. Reminds me of a lightly sweetened granola in almond milk. Finish: Medium, resting along the entire palate. Still get the cereals with a touch of brine. Overall: Satisfactory. A pleasant dram that I have enjoyed more then once on the back porch watching and listening to an evening rain. Not a complex whisky, but a comforting one that’s easy to reach for.

Nose: sweet and bready. A little bit smoke Palate: more spice than I thought there’d be. Also a bitter smoke flavor. Not much oak but I thought there’d be. Finish: medium and bready Overall: not bad but not super complex. An interesting pour nonetheless. I think it’s about $115 and I wouldn’t buy it for myself but I’m glad to try it and thankful for my friend sending this sample