I visited the small Oban distillery last summer with my friend Alan. I made the mistake of not buying their “Available only at the Distillery” release. Thankfully Alan was wise, and while he was hosting me in NYC I had the chance to pilfer a few more drops.
This is a heavy whisky, and at 55.5% shares some of the viscous nature of the Strathisla I previously featured. On the nose there are hints of fruit, especially peach and grapefruit. On the palette it is sublime. There is strong sweetness, but it is balanced by delightful oak and some peat. The peat enhances the flavour but does not dominate. It is a complex but well balanced malt and the smokiness only truly comes through as an aftertaste.
That trip we visited all the distilleries Islay had to offer and many in Speyside too. Oban was a stop-off as we drove between the two areas. My biggest regret of the whole time was that I didn’t purchase a bottle of this. If you find yourself in the charming seaside town of Oban don’t make the same mistake I did.
Thank you to Alan Paukman of Nikolai Rose for so being generous with your whisky.