Oban 18 Year

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.

Review #084 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 43% Comments: aged 18 years, matured in American oak casks Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Russet color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 17/20 Baked apples, cinnamon, zesty lemon bars, dried apricots, strawberries and cream, honey, and a subtle earthy musty scent to help balance out the sweeter ones. This bouquet of aromas is really just a joy to nose. Palate: 34/40 The mouthfeel comes across a little thin, but it’s not lacking in flavor. Salted caramels, more dried apricots, cinnamon, buttermilk, almonds, and milk chocolate. It’s very smooth, yet also complex. Finish: 34/40 Medium finish. Starts off with a nice creamy lemon flavor, gradually becoming a little spicier with oak tannins and a sprinkle of black pepper. Then it becomes smoother again as walnuts and vanilla take over, before ending with a small puff of peat smoke. With Water: A couple drops of water made berries much more evident on the nose, accompanied by some butterscotch. On the palate there’s an addition of milk and honey which unfortunately masks some of the other milder flavors - they’re still there but you need to really be searching for them. Total: 85/100 Final thoughts: First and foremost, I genuinely love this expression. I believe that the bottle I’m sampling from tonight is my third in as many years. It’s rare to come across one so smooth yet complex, and it’s hard to do better than Oban 18 for those times when you just want an easy-sipper. That said, I generally prefer punchier expressions, which is why I cant bring myself to give it a higher score. I think this whisky had the potential for more but was watered down too much and has been handicapped by the 43% ABV. The aromas and flavors are terrific but all seem a bit muted, the mouthfeel comes across a bit thin, and the finish feels cut short. This will always be a really enjoyable dram and a crowd pleaser, but it’s too agreeable and smooth to rise above and stand out. Price: $110 Would recommend: yes Would buy: yes Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

This was a performance bonus purchase, because I’m loathe to spend hard-earned money on anything Diageo over $80. Nose is light and inoffensive, with jammy pears and apricots, a nice hint of honeysuckle and a small bit of very old, very sun-dried wood. Not bad, but nothing to make me nose it more than is necessary to actually drink it. Palate is almost oily, moderately rich, also fruity-sweet, and nicely balanced. Sweet apricot and bitter orange rind, sweet honeydew and tart apple, sugary canned pears and sour green grass. Finish is dry oak, which puts it a little too far into the bitter spectrum for my preference, and seems out of place with the rest of the palate. Overall it’s decent, but takes some work to pick the parts from the whole. If I sipped without thought, I would consider this an ok drink, but I say the same about Evan Williams BiB, and it’s $25 a handle, versus $155 a fifth. For that money, I want something that sings to me, that draws me in and compels me to keep coming back. This does not. What it does, is remind me to not spend more than $80 on Diageo, because I will forever be disappointed knowing I could have had a nice Laphroaig, Springbank, Ledaig, BenRiach or GlenDronach, and probably some extra money to spare.

I received a rather lovely bottle of Oban 18 year for Christmas from a friend and neighbor. A surprising gift, considering that he is not a whiskey man himself. The nose is bright and vibrant with citrus shining past all else. There's some sweet orange jam with honey, prunes and a very faint, interesting water biscuit thing going on in the background. As you take in the sip, tannic oak opens up with some apples and tongue tingling spice reminiscent of a hot toddy. This whiskey is very very dry, with flavors of leather coming out on the back half of the palate. There's also a tiny bit of dried seaweed there... almost peat smoke in quality but not quite there. As the spice and tongue pricking subsides and amongst the remnants of the dry back of the taste, some sweetness finds its way back on the finish in the form of honey and raisins but it isn't strong. Not nearly as strong as the palate. It is however; quite long and satisfying. There's a bit too much spice and dryness going on here for me but I prefer sweet and oily whiskies. I guess that's why I am inherently a bourbon man myself. That said, it's an interesting and definitely unique selection.

I've loved every Oban expression I've had, starting with the mainstay Oban 14, which is utterly delicious. The 18 builds upon that deliciousness, even though four additional Scottish whisky years is nowhere near as "long" as four years of American whiskey aging due to Oban's damp North Atlantic coastal climate. (The average daily high temperature at the peak of summer in Oban is 64°, which is lower than the average daily low in Bardstown, Kentucky of 69°; the average daily high at the peak of summer in Bardstown is 87°. Higher temperatures age whisk(e)y more quickly). Deep pale amber. Upon opening and pouring, immediately notice richly effusive notes of orange marmalade and poached pear; successive nosings reveal honeydew, lightly toasted coconut, brown sugar, milk chocolate, and the faintest whiff of smoky bacon. A touch of leather on the palate finishing with gentle white pepper. What seems to be a touch of woody bitterness on the finish is the only detractor from an otherwise fabulous pour. 43% ABV is nicely balanced. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Classic Oban nose with a touch more smoke than I remember in other expressions I’ve had, a cold smoke like the smell of a fireplace the morning after a fire. There are nice malty cereals, a hint of green apple, vanilla, and caramel all carried on a gentle sea breeze. Nice and malty on the tongue, sweet but not overpoweringly so, everything is quite balanced. There’s substantial spice (think mulled cider), white pepper, barley syrup or perhaps light honey, and a bit of ash. Beautiful, uniform legs cascade evenly and cling for a long time. It’s light bodied for its age but not thin by any means, with a nice buttery feel. The finish is long, gently warming, and a little dry. There’s some lemon peel, pear skin, mild oak, and a tinge of peat at the end. All in all, it’s just a really nice malt whisky that’s not particularly challenging yet hard to forget. Nose: 9 Taste: 10 Body: 8.5 Finish: 9