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.
I've had mixed luck with this one. The 1st bottle I got from a supermarket on special offer and I was excited to try it. I kept it like a trophy while I polished of the last of the other bottles. However my first taste left me dissapointed. The finish reminded me of coach sick and was really rather unpleasant. It felt thin in the mouth and not as complex as I'd like a 14yr old to be. That being said I decided to give it another chance at a bar, and it was a completely different creature. Rich and full on the nose, salty sea air and honied. The mouth was full almost oily, a pleasure all round. Perhaps I caught a poor batch? Reviewer M.A.Horrell
One is the best single malts I've tasted.
It's a nice whisky but it's not made in Oban. It used to be; when I lived there you could visit the 1794 distillery building and see the whisky being made. But it then moved to some gleaming factory in the middle of nowhere. I'm not sure what that did to its quality.
Tasted it the other night at a whiskey bar for the first time and I had an immediate tasting note of soapiness. I didn't share that with my wife who also had a taste and believe it or not said, "it tastes like soap." Not sure what gives this taste, but have not tasted it in any other single malt.
I never cease to be amazed by the diversity of opinion on any malt it is truly a matter of individual palate. This to me is on the sweet side of the spectrum with a smoothness which makes it very likeable and a very pleasant smooth afters. I really like Oban
