A bustling seaside resort has grown up around the distillery in the two centuries since it was first built in the fishing town of Oban. The West Highland malt is still produced in the same unhurried, traditional fashion and this 14 year old is a classic whisky from the distillery.
Smoky, maritime nose with hints of sticking plasters and toffee brittle.
Smoky, creamy palate with notes of marmalade, toffee apples and pear cider. A development of cloves comes late palate.
A long, malty finish with toasty oak and spice.
A true classic, Oban's 14 year old is a great coastal dram for lovers of lightly smoked, fresh malts.
Was: £192.90Now: £191.90
I recently bought a bottle of this from my local supermarket for half its usual price (£48 down to £24). This was such a good deal that I snapped it up on the spot. Oban 14 really is in a category of its own. A unique but perfectly balanced mix of different regional styles. A definite Highland single malt but with clear Islay influences and a fair bit of Speyside in there too. On the nose, initially it's nowhere near as peaty and coastal as many reviews I've read have stated but the smoky, peaty notes are there just not as pronounced as I thought they'd be. Then I swilled out my Glencairn nosing glass with some warm boiled water and tried it again and the nose really opened up revealing a similar savoury nose to that of Old Pultney 12 but with a quite exquisite dark fruit that I couldn't quite identify. On the palate there's a wonderful fruity, floral spiciness with a hint of something that may be cinnamon or liquorice which reminds me of a good Bourbon. It's lovely and smooth and mouth coating without any nasty alcohol burn. The finish is fine with mainly orange dominating. I've read some reviews that criticise the orange on the finish but I like it. That liquorice or dark fruit makes a pleasant return on the finish too. Is it worth £48? Absolutely not but at £24 I have to score it on the price I paid for it as value is a factor when I review any whisky. Overall this is a very good single malt that I'm glad to have found for such a good price. My collection at the moment (I always limit it to 7 bottles on the go at any one time) is dominated by strong, peaty Islays and this bottle makes a refreshing change as it covers a lot of bases very well. Recommended.
I love it. Easy to drink, not complex, but nor is it offensive in any way. No acquiring of tastes required, just pour and enjoy, I like it on the rocks, with water, or straight, but prefer it on the rocks. As another reviewer mentioned, it does make a nice aperitif. I couldn't give it five stars because the orange flavor does linger a bit too long...
Oban ,Very nice 14 year single malt scotch. I am a 12 and 18 , 21 year glenfiddich scotch drinker . I am very impressed will keep this one around for the cold nights by the fire. Thank you Dennis Banks
As a visiting scot to the U.S. I was offered this by my host the other night.Straight up it is medicinal,but cut with water and no ice it truly offers up its real variety of characteristics. A very good after dinner dram,not for social imbibing
This is my go- to whisky at the mo. For me, it's the right balance of peat, It's a smooth swallow and has enjoyable flavours all round.
