By Richard Thomas
Score: B+
(Credit score: Diageo)
Oban is a type of uncommon distilleries in Scotland that predates the 1823 Excise Act. That regulation made it rather more possible to function a authorized distillery, paving the best way for the Scotch business we all know immediately. Based in 1794, Oban noticed the numerous widespread twists and turns widespread to a such a venerable a part of the Scotch enterprise, being offered and resold, closed and reopened in a protracted historical past that defies a quick abstract right here. As a substitute, I want to concentrate on some salient factors that one may see in the event that they have been to go to the Oban Distillery of immediately.
First, Oban is in a correct city of the identical identify, making it one in every of a handful of city distilleries in Scotland. That city is on the west coast of north-central Scotland, and conserving in thoughts the home model of creating malt whisky, Oban straddles the boundary between the Highlands and the Islands in each a bodily and a metaphorical sense. It’s additionally a small malt distillery, the second smallest in Diageo’s huge Scotch holdings.
This explicit expression spent 11 years on a mixture of American oak hogsheads and European oak butts. The hogshead is a rebuilt, enlarged American Commonplace Barrel, whereas the butt is a good bigger cask generally used within the Sherry business. From there, the whisky was completed in Oloroso and Palo Cortado Sherry casks for 4 years, earlier than bottling at 110 proof.
The Scotch
The look of the pour is that of a golden white wine, whereas the nostril led with a paler factor. It smelt of dry straw up entrance, however behind that have been modest notes of stone fruits, lemon zest, some ash and really complete wheat bread dough. However general, the nostril was a light-weight affair, regardless of the 55% ABV. Not so with the palate, which introduced a fruity physique of extra stone fruits and golden raisins drizzled with honey, coupled to notes of almonds that make the entire thing form of like a breakfast cereal… albeit, one which comes with a good bit of peat smoke hooked up. The end opened with melted brown sugar earlier than that light down to go away behind tea tannins.
I felt the whisky was held again a bit by the ethereal nostril, which is an odd factor to say of a a lot stronger than regular Scotch. The remainder of the expertise, although, was pretty and rewarding.
The Value
This bottle ought to fetch $150 for the US, 750ml measurement.
