• Explore
  • Scotland
  • Highlands
  • Oban
  • Diageo Special Releases 2021

Oban 12-year-old

Overall rating
86.59/100
votes
332
Whiskybase ID
WB184604
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
Diageo Special Releases 2021
Bottled
2021
Stated Age
12 years old
Casktype
Freshly-charred American Oak Casks
Strength
56.2 % Vol.
Size
700 ml 750 ml
Barcode
5000281067490
Added on
29 may 2021 9:17 pm by JohnnyTheSmoker
Non-chillfilteredCask Strength
Oban 12-year-old
Photo by Whiskybase Shop
Oban 12-year-old
Photo by Whiskybase Shop
Oban 12-year-old
Photo by thebase

Average value

€ 130.96

Found 66 online shops. Lowest price:

£ 103.94
United Kingdom Master of Malt £ 103.94
United Kingdom The Whisky Exchange £ 105.00
United Kingdom Justerini & Brooks £ 105.00
Create a free Whiskybase account to view 63 additional offers and compare bottle prices of sellers all over the world
Create free account

67 × in wishlist

332 × member ratings

857 × in collection

Whisky reviews for Oban 12-year-old

72 users have left 72 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 86.59 points.

  1. Dottore scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    The vinegar tinge in the nose unfortunately prevents a real taste experience for me, even if the mouth and finish are convincing
    • Nose
      77 77
      Very sour in the nose. White wine, but you could also go in the direction of vinegar, I find borderline. The note is unfortunately very penetrating, other fragrances have a hard time. Pineapples, bananas and shortbread cookies try their best, but they don't really work out.
    • Taste
      86 86
      Much better in the mouth, tart, subtle smoky, fine cocoa and roasted rye bread notes. Sweet, sponge fingers and spicy tart.
    • Finish
      83 83
      Dry, bitter finish. Espresso. At the very end a slightly sour, fruity note, maybe pineapple. Somewhat metallic and bubbly

  2. Create a free Whiskybase account to read all 72 reviews for this whisky
    Create free account
  3. Totoro scored this whisky 81 points Connoisseur

    Hard pass. Give me the Distiller's Edition – or just the regular 14 y.o. – over this, any day of the week.
    • Nose
      81 81
      Quite closed initially; I can only make out a vague martime / mineral aspect – wet sand and gravel? Citrus and dry oak coming through after some time in the glass, but it remains shy. The alcohol comes on strong, already telling me I won't much like this in undiluted form.
      With water,
      80 without, 82 with water.
    • Taste
      82 82
      Without water, the citrus and oak from the nose dominate, with notes of lemon zest, straw and bitters (tonic water). Not my jam.
      With water, it gains massively in sweetness, but the flavors remain on the fresh and sour side of the spectrum: sugared grapefruit, perhaps, though now you also get some cereal / bready notes as well as a curious fragrant side that reminds me of freshly cut lemongrass. That's got to come from the re-charred oak.

      81 without, 83 with water.
    • Finish
      80 80
      Fragrant, floral, citric, tart. Certainly okay, but, again: not really my wheelhouse.

  4. empeng did not rate this whisky Member Senior

    • Nose
      Perfume, Vanilla, Wax.
      Softer than oban's core range bottle, 14 years old.
      It smells like something out of a department store. Maybe perfume or soap.
      It's not strong, but it feels a bit waxy with vanilla.
    • Taste
      Sweetness, Orange, Honey.
      You can feel the spicyness coming from the alcohol for a while, but it quickly disappears.
      Soon after, you can feel the sweetness and the distinctive orange scent of Oban.
      However, the second half of the taste is relatively empty.
      The peaty note seems weaker than the 14 year's.
    • Finish
      Citrus, Apple.
      Bitter aroma of citrus peel. Slight apple scent.

  5. caskstreeenght scored this whisky 90 points Member Junior

    tropical fruits at palate, very spicy, ginger, reminds me of Ardbeg An Oa without the punch of peat, also this whisky has peat, very good whisky

  6. Whisky Hamster scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Haven't had a bette Oban yet, but what does that mean, really? XD Try before you buy. Expensive for a 12yo but actually very decent malt.

  7. Alco_Feel scored this whisky 86 points Member Junior

    very bright, spectacular whisky, many liked it at the tasting, due to its brightness and clarity. I like not very mature whiskys, cask-strength, aged in first-fill bourbon barrels, they are simple and understandable, but at the same time they give a lot of emotions due to their brightness, tones of varnish and fresh sweet bread.
    • Nose
      creamy, wet wood, grass, bourbon sweetness (little), pastries, pastry cream, very sweet, bright, cinnabon! Or baking a snail with cream, powder, beeswax, lipstick. After 15 minutes, it changes in the glass, leaving one solid cream, the sweetness of baking, fresh bread crust with butter, all this is bright and assertive!
    • Taste
      peppery, sweet, bright, bourbon, malty, woody, citrus, CREAM CREAM, PINEAPPLE, grapefruit, red pepper, sweetness flowing into wormwood.
    • Finish
      long-lasting, tropical fruits, grapefruit, freshness, herbaceousness, lipstick, powderiness, tart honey.

  8. zemartino scored this whisky 88 points Member Senior

    Interesting and quite unique. Requires water to fully show its potential. Does not show a lot of sweetness upfront, but it develops in the glass. Vanilla, honey and reminds me of salted, buttered popcorn. Would not mind owning a second bottle of this

  9. _Dziki_ scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      83 83
      Almonds, vanilla, grass, herbs, spices, green apple, flowers
    • Taste
      84 84
      Young walnuts, ginger, sour apple, lemon peel
    • Finish
      81 81
      Weak, alcoholic, burning and warming.

  10. Daniel Hohleweg scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      84 84

  11. rottendon scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    Interesting and actually quite tasty.

    Notes from a blind tasting.

    Wow, I assumed it was a young distillery still in the process of finding itself and would have said great potential, promising etc. For a 12-year-old Oban, however, that's pretty weak, so for anything over the age of six that's weak. Still interesting and quite nice, I like the peat level.
    • Nose
      83 83
      Interesting, sniffed the sample bottle and thought I had a cold, nothing! It looks different in the glass, the first impression is actually quite full, or voluminous. Cake batter, vanilla, a few yellow fruits, after a minute mineral notes and some herbs are added, after another minute slight acidity and a hint of fermented fallen fruit, but really only in homeopathic doses. No significant change after standing for a while, even if it looks a bit shy. With movement now a little more acid and a tickle in the nose. Warmth initially provides significantly more fermented fruit, which becomes the central note, along with some cardboard. It gets sweeter again as the temperature increases, now a slightly darker, malty sweetness. Now the alcohol is really starting to bite your nose, the acid is getting the upper hand, now disinfectant, smoke? If so, he has been well hidden so far. No trace of fruit or vanilla. Very late an occasional flare of farm notes. Once it has gone down the throat, the smoke is also quite clear in the nose.
    • Taste
      83 83
      Moderate start with sugary sweetness, then the alcohol kicks in, quite brute, metallic, young, bitterness that is distinguished towards the back, which, however, does not come from the barrel and is not disturbing at all. It seems really smoky. Despite everything, it works quite harmoniously. The mouthfeel is pleasantly oily and dense. In the second sip, the bitterness and acidity are more prominent, the sweetness is clearly malty. The whole thing still seems surprisingly coherent, even if the analysis doesn't sound like it.
    • Finish
      81 81
      In the finish it slowly becomes a little sweeter again, bready sweetness. Not a great reheat, the alcohol quickly disappears without a trace. Has something of horseradish, first pointed and sharp and then gone all at once. The finish is also short to medium-long overall, but seems to confirm the impression of smoke. 10-20ppm would be my guess, so not that little. In the second sip it becomes clear, yes, Peat.

  12. Flou scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  13. DistiLesha scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    This whisky just had to be complex and rich, and it happened!
    And with water, it blooms and plays out with new notes - basement mold, plaster, soda and even more vanilla! Tobacco notes on the palate.
    21 22 21 21
    • Nose
      Sweet malt, boiled sea fish, butter cream, minerality, sulfur content, pear-lemon tart, fruit-cream puree, custard, tannins, thinner.
      Very powerful, dense and rich!
    • Taste
      Infused with sweet fruity notes that transition to vanilla, dry woods, lemon zest and bitter tannins.
      Spices and hot black pepper put an end to this story.
      Second sip: dusty libraries, minerality.
      Sweetness: 7 out of 10
      Saturation: 9 out of 10
    • Finish
      Dry, simple, dry wood, bitter rind from mountain ash.

  14. Marequiers48 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  15. BunnaMan scored this whisky 86 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      Vanilla, heather perfumy and very mild smoke, also some mild tropical fruit.
    • Taste
      Peppery and honey sweet. Mild tase of grapes and cantalope.
    • Finish
      Mild, peppery and sweet. Honey nectar with sweet red grapes.

  16. hs305 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    [October 2002] There are not that many Oban drams out there and the last special releases of Oban malt (e.g., the distillery-only bottlings) were of a rather questionable quality, to state it politely. So, I am very curious if this unfortunate legacy will change to the better with the 2021 edition...

    ...and it does, at least somewhat. The neat dram is a raw beast which offers almost nothing except alcoholic power in a simple profile. After a reduction to about 45% abv this dram nicely opens up and displays its hidden beauty with a rather old-style Highland profile which is both subtle and balanced. It is worth 100+ bucks? Not really, but if you want to experience the untampered profile of the Oban distillery this might be the best option. I like it for that.
    • Nose
      87 87
      The colour is yellow gold, and the nose offers a flawless modern profile which is quite punchy (no wonder at 58.2%). I cannot identify any specific aromas in such a closed nose that is why I added water (after some breathing time that yielded no new impressions). This nose requires a big splash to finally open up, and after that it offers a subtle and balanced Highland profile which is more on the grassy-floral than on the fruity side. Actually, this is rather old-style now and guess what? I like it for that.
    • Taste
      90 90
      The taste is simple, flawless and nicely balanced - actually this is pretty good and much better than all of the last distillery-only bottlings I tried. It is driven by massive barley sugars, spices of the wood and some interesting herbal notes. Water releases additional waxes, some shy citric fruits (lime) and the barley sugars combine to a fine milk chocolate flavour after some chewing. Now this is a pretty fine taste, and again it is more old-style than modern. But if you look for something spectacular like unusual aromas or flavour spikes - forget it. This is a taste for lovers of subtle and harmonious malts (like me).
    • Finish
      88 88
      The neat dram arrives powerful on my palate with a warming and somewhat coating texture including peppery moments from the high abv. The finish is of medium length and turns a little to the bitter, more tannic side of the profile. Some water does not change a lot, but a bigger reduction unleashes the beauty of this dram. I clearly prefer this dram reduced to about 45% abv, rather less than more. My scores are for this ratio, the neat dram I score about two points lower.

  17. ZLako scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    One of the rare Diageo natural color bottlings. The color is pale straw.

    N: Fresh and fruity. Mostly getting orchard fruits such as green apples and ripe pears. Getting some freshly cut wood with green grass. The vanilla unfolds with a pleasant brine note. The alcohol (56.2%) is nowhere to be found. Great start. (88)

    P: Right from the start very oily. Mouth coating. The ABV is nicely integrated. Pepper rush with saltiness. Then those fresh fruits and vanilla. Heat. Strong but not overly strong. It's still in the pleasant category for me. I preferred the nose more tho. (86)

    F: Relatively short compared to the high ABV. Peppery, spicy, that freshly cut wood note and salty. Not sweet at all. Dry. (82)

    Overall quite a nice CS edition. With that said I would still not pay 100 EUR. I think the reasonable price would be about 60 EUR for what we are getting here.

    88 / 86 / 82 = 85.333 --> 85 pts / 100

  18. Gil firth scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Great release. Bright and salty in the finish. Old style with vanilla touch.

  19. Tom na Gruagaich scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    The PLV is borderline, but Cask Strength Oban are rarely a nice dram anyway.
    • Nose
      a lot of vanilla, but then also nice ripe fruit, all in all light. But not light. Becomes somewhat more typical of Oban over time, becoming more mineral. But slightly green wood notes can also be heard. Sometimes great, sometimes interesting nose.
    • Taste
      Clearly drier in the mouth. Still vanilla. But tart notes, some minerality and a few peppery notes show that the malt has power.
    • Finish
      The finish is slightly salty and maritime with a hint of smoke and orange lemonade. Typical Oban, maybe a little more wood.

  20. DimiIkon scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Tasting: August 2022
    • Nose
      Green grapes, heather, fruity sweetness, with vanilla and red fruits.
    • Taste
      Alcohol and saltiness, spices with clear pepper, discreet smoke, sweetness of fruits and red berries.
    • Finish
      Black pepper, sweetness of red fruits and light honey.

  21. domani scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    I really like this bottling. The fruit acidity is not overpowering and is contained by the sweetness, along with the subtle spiciness and the salty-maritime coastal impact. 3-4 drops of water complete the profile - 08/26/2022
    • Nose
      88 88
      Fruity nose, green apple, star fruit, grapefruit, pineapple, maritime, salty, mint, Hubba-Bubba, some spiciness emerges, lovage, the fruit acid returns again and again and mixes with fructose. The fruit turns into a perfume note that reminds me of shower gel. Toffee and sugar form sweet counterpoints here
    • Taste
      88 88
      Not as strong as expected, dry, soapy, forest honey, some pepper, quickly becomes oily and develops a strong, spicy sweetness, malt candy, towards the end menthol and wood
    • Finish
      87 87
      Medium length, creamy, waxy, the perfume note perceived at the beginning returns

  22. EvilAFI scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Bold vanilla, oak and spice. Simple but enjoyable
    • Nose
      88 88
      Orchard fruits, , vanilla custard, lemon peel, whisp of smoke
    • Taste
      88 88
      Sweet vanilla, oak and a warm spiciness
    • Finish
      85 85
      A bit earthy and vegetal now, vanilla still lingers

  23. Saftkenner scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    I really enjoy this bottling on the palate - refreshingly powerful attack, slightly oily body. If only there weren't the (very succinct) aromas of spoiled light fruit, to which I (admittedly) react very sensitively, and which really spoil the show for me here. Anyone who gets along well with it, I can understand that very well, will definitely appreciate this bottling.
    • Nose
      82 82
      The aroma in the nose is determined by slightly spoiled light fruits such as pears and apples, which have become brown and slightly squishy. In addition lemon, malt, ginger, vanilla, honey, mineral notes, apple chewing gum, slightly artificial. The alcohol is (at least) extremely well integrated.
    • Taste
      86 86
      Powerful start, slightly oily body. Pear, caramel, rotten apples, lemon fizz, barley sugar, summer blossom honey, dried apple rings, brine.
    • Finish
      84 84
      Mid-length finish. Apple, caramel, anise, grapefruit.

  24. grinface scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    A great bottling. A very clear and defined bottling with an emphasis on the maritime side, which for some might already be "to much". I really felt welcomed here and am looking forward to more Oban, which I hope to be able to taste in the future. Even if it's not that easy to find.

    Full review in a session of five Highland region whisky: https://keinehalbendrinks.de/2022/04/29/eine-hand-voll-highlands-teil-4/

  25. Calmar scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Powerful and assertive whisky of a classic woody-mineral profile with a sweet slant, bright, juicy, not very deep and varied, but whole.
    • Nose
      Restrained, dry, dried out hardwood boards, candy canes, grain, caustic mineral notes - stone chips, drying plaster; lemon peel, candied citrus fruits, honey-floral shades, vanilla, white pepper.
    • Taste
      Powerful, rich, oak, grain, powerful pepper wave, mineral notes - chalk, stone dust; vanilla, sweet candy notes, cigarette tobacco, ginger, uncoated tablets, metallic taste, bark bitterness.
    • Finish
      Spicy, warming, oak, tablets, tobacco, candied citrus fruits, floral and honey notes, grain.

  26. Koning scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Oban in full glory. It is a more maritime malt than I remembered, that also shines without sherry casks. One of the best among the 2021 Diageo special releases for sure.
    • Nose
      86 86
      Quite maritime at the first sniff: it's briny, mineral with maybe some mussels and wet dog. Then sweetness is aded by vanilla, caramel, straw and lemons.
    • Taste
      89 89
      Full and oily taste. Maritime with salty olives and fresh citrus fruits, fennel curry spices. Some mustard and a sweter side: vanilla, dulce de leche and honey. Good stuff!
    • Finish
      88 88
      More creamy now, with grapefruits, sweet vanilla, redcurrants before the coastal character comes to the front again: mussels, mineral, a bit of chalk, leather and smoke.

  27. Squinugie scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      85 85

  28. JacobaEd scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      83 83

  29. MarcinCh scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    Very bright color. Pretty oily.
    • Nose
      84 84
      Mineral. Citrus. Fruit drought. Traces of caramel and vanilla. Sea salt.
    • Taste
      84 84
      Caramel. Sea salt. Minerality. Salty caramel. Dried fruit. A pinch of spices.
    • Finish
      85 85
      Leather. Smoke traces. Minerality. Sea salt. Sea. Quite a long finish.

  30. WiltChamberlain scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  31. Dionysus scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      84 84

  32. zzqfyl scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      87 87

  33. Issie did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    31.01.2022
    • Nose
      Apricot, a bit of passion fruit, lemon, slightly maritime, some caramel, grass, herbs, a bit of wood
      Where is the 56.2% alcohol actually? I don't smell any of that at all.
    • Taste
      Honey, apricot, passion fruit, lemon, lemon fizz, maritime, salty, pepper

  34. the_muskox scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    This bottling is pretty much just what I wanted it to be – quintessential Oban, dialed up to 11. There’s the classic mix of orange, malt, flowers, honey, and a hint of Island-ish salt and smoke, but there’s also tantalizing hints of butter, wax, and tropical fruit that I haven’t gotten from Oban before. I was a little disappointed at first that this whisky was coming across a bit too green, especially with that virgin oak maturation… but time and a dribble of water really helped things come together. It’s still a bit green, but I appreciate being able to try this stripped-down presentation without having to travel all the way to the distillery.
    • Nose
      Sweet and rather young on the nose. Very salty, especially after it rested for a while. Tangerine, banana cream pie, and a hint of passionfruit. White chocolate, browned butter, vanilla, milk tea, and a hint of almond. There’s a hint of peppery peat smoke here, more than I remember getting from other Obans. The pepper peat and floral flavours combine into an almost habanero-ish note.
    • Taste
      Medium-light texture, with a fair amount of alcohol heat. Sweet, spirity, and punchy on the arrival with bright yellow plums, orange zest, honey, and salted caramel. Develops to buttered toast, vanilla, and spicy sea-sprayed oak. A bit more of that milk tea. Toasted coconut, guava, and heady tropical flowers going into the finish.
    • Finish
      Medium short. Orange peel, a hint of wax, and more plums and fresh flowers. Candied pineapple. Honey oat bars and buttery shortbread. Slightly grassy. Trails off into soft fragrant peat smoke with a hints of brine and black pepper.

  35. ConvalRen scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Oban, the typical no-frills and yet no edge whisky. Clean, complex, and well-rounded taste notes. At least Oban is doing something right, unlike that mediocre Talisker and Lagavulin bottling.
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      88 88

  36. JimJaws scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      91 91

  37. Eigerle scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    A not everyone's dram. You have to be into very dry white wines in order to be able to get used to drinking them. Ultimately, for me, a great nose and a rough, but not boring palate let me forget the inflated price. Really something special - not typical Oban.
    • Nose
      90 90
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      84 84

  38. Othorion scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    A nice straight bourbon cask malt, salty-maritime, very delicate smoke, bananas, apples, seaweed, honey, a few citrus notes, spicy in the mouth, a little pepper, oily, custard with apples, bananas and some roasted nuts. Alcohol is super integrated, it works well without water. The finish is spicy and quite long, drying slightly with salt, a hint of liquorice and lemon zest.

  39. whiskytornado scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      87 87

  40. Dris scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      87 87

  41. Whiskylifestyle scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    A clean and straightforward Oban, but very Oban-like if you know what I mean. It needs some time to open up but then it becomes quite nice, although not very complex. Is that a bad thing? I don’t think so, but it feels a bit too expensive for what you get.
    • Nose
      Rather clean and with quite some amount of caramel at first. When this settles it becomes a little bit smoky. Which is followed by oranges and a bit of sea salt, but also seaweed. Then vanilla custard and red apples. Unripe pears as well.
    • Taste
      Plenty of oranges here on the arrival. A faint hint of smoke. Vanilla custard. Limes and unripe pears too. Sea salt. A hint of pink grapefruit. White pepper.
    • Finish
      Mid-long and a little bit dry. White pepper and salt. Vanilla. Oranges too.

  42. stashdong scored this whisky 88 points Member Senior

    young yet complex, what a nice surprise
    • Nose
      87 87
      sea breeze, floral, ripe apricot
    • Taste
      88 88
      a bit harsh on taste, creamy and nutty, yellow fruits
    • Finish
      89 89
      long, citrus and orange zing, very fruity one

  43. Georges scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Maritime notes, seaweed, smoky, iodine, fruity (apples, pears, bananas), grappa perfume, olives
    • Taste
      Spicy (pepper, clove), vanilla, fruity (orange peels, grapefruit), salty, liquorice, sherry
    • Finish
      Long, creamy, custard, smoky, briny, salt

  44. geriud scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      87 87

  45. elipszis scored this whisky 91 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      91 91
      salty
      vanilla
      sponge cake
      apple
      pear
      lemon
      honey
      white wine
      intensive
    • Taste
      91 91
      apple
      pear
      salty
      vanilla
      hint of smoke
      white pepper
      white wine
    • Finish
      92 92
      green apple
      salty
      little bit bitter
      lemon zest
      white pepper
      chardonnay
      medium long finish

  46. Cheesehut-Fellows scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    Almost Springbank-esque maltiness, cheese crackers, great casks render vanilla, berries and spice.

  47. didi1893 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    A maritime coastal whisky with citrus fruits and a slightly spicy note of pepper. Interesting and tasty, a little too sour for my taste. Highly deserved 87 points!
    • Nose
      Muted yellow fruit, a hint of caramel and toffee, nuts, minimally salty with hints of citrus fruits, apples, bananas, apricots, lemons, maritime and slightly mineral.
    • Taste
      Lemons with banana mash, salty and maritime, a touch of white pepper heats the tongue, tart and spicy wood tones, herbs, slightly waxy, rather tart and dried fruit notes.
    • Finish
      Warm, slightly tart wood, dark yellow fruit, zest of lemons, salt and pepper, a hint of liquorice, minimally sour, long-lasting.

  48. WhiskyPEATer scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      89 89

  49. Hlektrion scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  50. Mapl scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

  51. whiskyinstitut scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
      Mineral and citrus fruity, some tin buckets, fresh herb meadow, lemon peel
    • Taste
      88 88
      Mineral and citrus-heavy, creamy and spicy, a lot of power and heat in the mouth, acid-heavy oak
    • Finish
      86 86
      Creamy and oak accentuated, still a lot of warmth, the metal tin bucket stays in the mouth for a long time

  52. eselsim scored this whisky 78 points Expert Senior

    Probably the most disappointing DSR so far, always do the blind tasting! Don't get fooled by the fancy artwork and colorful labels!
    • Nose
      85 85
      Nose was very promising, rich in seasalt, ashes, plastic, damp cellar, grape skins and hints of malt, lightly perfumed, over time damp vanilla and fruit come up.
    • Taste
      75 75
      Very tannic and harsh, which you would've expected to get from Virgin oak cask, in fact it is so tannic that it's nearly impossible to drink it without water, which defies the point of bottling it at CS 56.2% Spices are dominating the palate, a spoonful of ginger powder and chewing on new wood.
    • Finish
      75 75
      All that remains is the annoying spiciness, that's far from Oban I know and I like

  53. man2392 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    refill American oak and 1 yr rejuvenated oak finish
    Nose: parmesan rind, Himalayan rock salt, scones with clotted cream and damson jam, greengages
    Palate: orange slices and kumquats, cardamom, toffee pennies
    Finish: seaspray and lemons, jasmine

    With water
    Nose: white chocolate, lemon zest, fireplace ash, rich tea biscuits
    Palate: used flower water, orange sherbet
    Finish: desiccated coconut

    Tasted as part of Southport Whisky Club Christmas Diageo Special Releases tasting

  54. Mane140486 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Junior

    On the nose: there are hints of white fruit, pear, a sprinkle of salt, vanilla, meringues, almonds, green tea and a slight hint of wick, just blown out candle.
    In the mouth it is lively, with a slight hint of chilli, then there are also notes of white fruit, pear, unripe plum, citrus and marzipan and a hint of a dead fireplace, ash. Rather herbaceous and dry.
    Quite long and dry finish, with almonds, salt, white fruit and citrus fruits.

  55. LittlePeat scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  56. JungleDram scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  57. WhiskyJpg scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  58. Simon Stood scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Nice drinkable Oban, herbaceous sweet, mint-peppery. 22-22-21-22

  59. markjedi1 scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Ah, Oban... It never disappoints, does it? Anyway, at Whivie HQ we are crazy about it, so we were happy that an Oban has also appeared in the series this year. 'The Tale of Two Foxes' must refer to the two types of casks that were used for maturation, I assume? Ex-Bourbon and European refill barrels in this case. Let's have a taste.
    Oban normally shows soft maritime traits, but here they are really prominent and dominant and... it works perfectly! Seaweed, salt, apples and bananas, pebbles on the beach, a handful of nuts and an olive in the background. Not necessarily in that order. Give it a few minutes in the glass and it opens completely and becomes slightly sweeter, but also a lot more complex. Delicious!
    Great mouthfeel. Nice and oily and very fruity on a lot of citrus,but also great salty notes. Brackish water mixed with honey, apples and banana again, but a surprising waxiness that really appeals to me. Ginger and mustard seeds, white pepper and especially a cartload of sea salt. But what a powerhouse and what a balance.
    The finish... Correction: the Finish is spicy, as clean as the backside of a newborn baby and only extinguishes very slowly. I think I just tasted my best Oban ever (okay, okay, it's only my 15th).

  60. asmadeus did not rate this whisky Member Senior

    This is a naked Oban, stripped away of its costume put on for the crowd. As is the case with cask strength whisky, every new drop of water peels away a layer of clothing, opening slowly, revealing the innocence, leaving it fragile yet forward and proud. Unlike its Diageo cousin from Islay, the Oban is sweeter and gentler on nose, but just like its siblings from Highlands and Isles, it still packs a punch if you let it in quick. So please take your time, allow all the fire to warm up the room, allow light to fade, then lead naked Oban to sit by your bedside, and hear its tale as you drift away. You'll dream of twin foxes, one red and one brown, as fire and earth mix with water and air, and bring on the spirit distilled in this bottle, from sweetness to sea salt, from orange to smoke.

  61. Horror_Vacui scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Nose:
    Quite maritime and salty, but also a bit alcoholic on the nose (Blender's glass).
    A certain acidity is dominant, however, which ranges between (Tetrapak) white wine, pineapple and gooseberry.
    Behind it propolis and candle wax.
    Thyme and oregano.

    Mouth:
    The alcohol in the start and mouth was quite aggressive. Olives, salt. Somewhat retsina, with an almost resinous undertone and a dry feeling in the mouth.
    Here, too, a lot of acidity, sweetness and fruit can only be guessed at.

    Finish:
    Medium long, dry and sour.

    85/100

    Conclusion: Anyone who likes dry and very acidic white wines could like this Oban very much. But it is not my construction site.

  62. gaboruso scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      88 88

  63. Tuco1972 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  64. whiskyclick scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    NOSE
    -dirt in the back (peat or charr? ) , nice vanilla sweet, floral parfume, fresh grass, malty, salty, vivid dram

    PALATE
    - again vanilla sweetness, but very alcohol punchy, not very complex but beautiful Oban spirit shines here

    FINISH
    -peppery, some sherry casks, medium long.
    With time finish also starts to be more sweet and less peppery.

    CONCLUSION
    Very nice, raw Oban, but you have to be very patient with this dram. It develops very nice, getting more and more sweetness with time, but not overly layerish. The nose is the best part of the dram. Not sure is it worth the current price of 100-120€.
    6/10

  65. TomP scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  66. Glenrothes1973 scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      88 88

  67. Fight65 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    Oban with a nice sweetness!
    • Taste
      IT: 87
      B: 87

  68. Ficelli scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      84 84

  69. ROLOCA scored this whisky 90 points Newbie

    The best Oban I ever had
    • Nose
      99 99
      I can smell the fruity character, oranges, lemon, maritime odors, salt and a bit of smoke. Really nice, very complex
    • Taste
      97 97
      Agressive but surprising, a slap in the face, a punch. Never had such a powerful Oban like that before. Maybe because it is my first cask strength.
    • Finish
      99 99
      Long and warm, perfect!

  70. pianoman scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Fresh, a bit pungent at the beginning. White wine, lemons, a hint of horseradish. Shortbread. Behind some blossom honey and lilac. warm sandstone.
    • Taste
      Creamy, spicy. Cantuccini. White pepper, some chili, lemon ice cream with walnuts. A touch of honey. milk coffee. A touch of salt and green olives.

  71. galg33 scored this whisky 85 points Member Senior

    ose: Oban’s a distillery is a coastal one sitting a spit’s length from Oban ban, so it’s very fitting this one is going to have some coastal and maritime notes, and it does (well, it’ss an Oban), some salty notes, seat spray, mineral, with wet pebbles and perfumed ripe red apples, sitting on a sweet fresh dough pastry almost a hint of grappa perfume here if I might say so, a tad waxy as well which is welcome and maybe a note of pear financier cookies. A lovely beginning. With water, the faintest hint of green olives comes into mind.

    Palate: A bit harsh and brutal entry: quite spicy with a lot of pepper, bitter toasted oak, orange peel, and bitter grapefruit pith, there’s also a salty saline-y touch to it, gone are the perfumed apples, and it’s really more forceful and not as gentle as one can expect from sniffing it. more vanilla and spices make for a not-so-complex palate, but still enjoyable. Feels a bit younger than 12, if I might say so.

    Finish: medium length with a hint of smoke, and more olive brine, salt, and toasted oak. quite frugal.

    Conclusion: A rather “Obany” Oban, a bit simplistic, with a brilliant nose, and a good palate and finish. If you’re an Oban fan, this one’s not going to disappoint, but hey at over 100 quid, not sure about VFM. I am not 100% convinced here.

  72. Mortar1703 scored this whisky 89 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      89 89

  73. spigray scored this whisky 90 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
      a bit spirity but you can immediately smell Oban with it´s nice coastal character, dark honey, nuts, apples and some bananas too. Serge found some olives and mustard. No olives here but I am getting the mustard. Opens up with time in the glass and it´s becoming a really lovely nose.
      The only flaw might be the stubborn spiritiness which isn´t really disturbing but a bit distracting and it won´t vanish when diluted.
    • Taste
      91 91
      It´s nicely balanced, coastal, honeyed, malty, nutty and I could have guessed it to be Clynelish which cannot be bad. I must say, it´s pretty much the same as on the nose.
      With water it becomes a bit saltier and even more coastal, the mustard coming through again. And more accessible.
      Very good!
    • Finish
      90 90
      The finish is long and clean. Prickling at the edges of the tongue. Becoming a bit dry.

Tastingtags

Add tasting tags by clicking the flavours you recognized in this whisky.

Whiskybase

Whiskybase is founded in 2007 with the goal to create the biggest resource of whisky information in the world. A community driven website built by and for whisky enthusiasts.  




Whiskybase B.V. 
Zwaanshals 530 
3035 KS Rotterdam 
The Netherlands 

KVK: 60207205
VAT: NL853809112B01

Copyright © 2023


Whiskies

Shop




Market



General

We use cookies to improve your online experience. By using this site, you consent to this use as described in our Privacy Policy.

Forgot your password?

Login