Oban 14 year old scotch review năm 2024

The tiny lamp glass-shaped copper pot stills that make Oban’s Scotch are among the smallest in Scotland, and the liquor they distill is slowly condensed in wooden worm tubs outside among the rooftops, exposed to the salted sea air, bringing a distinct depth of flavour said to go very well with salted caramel.

Serving Suggestion: Best served neat in a tumbler, perhaps with a little cool spring water.

"Lightly smoky on the honeyed, floral nose. Toffee, cereal and a hint of peat. The palate offers initial cooked fruits, becoming spicier. Complex, bittersweet, oak and more gentle smoke. The finish is quite lengthy, with spicy oak, toffee and new leather."

Gavin D Smith, Malt Whisky Yearbook 2015, p.162

"Good energy, balance with surprising weight."

Dave Broom 2005, Whisky Magazine, Issue 45

"A much-beloved malt in the U.S. Some say it’s because it is easy to pronounce (though having said that, remember it’s ‘OH-bin’ and not ‘O’Bahn’). I’d prefer to think its popularity is because there is something about the fresh cleanliness of the nose, its orange oils, chocolate, and zesty-zingy and yes, occasionally salty spiciness that is instantly appealing."

Dave Broom, Whisky Advocate Summer 2012

International Spirits Challenge

Bronze

2010

International Spirits Challenge

Silver

2009

International Wine and Spirits Challenge

SILVER

2007-2008

International Wine and Spirits Challenge

Silver (Outstanding)

2014

International Wine and Spirits Challenge

Gold (Best in Class)

2009

San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Silver

2003-2004, 2007, 2009, 2014

San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Gold

2016

The Scotch Whisky Masters

Gold

2009

Ultimate spirits Challenge

95 Points

2016

Body

A full, rich, almost oily malt.

Nose

Immediate and confident; rapidly gaining intensity. Warming and sweet: oily, waxy and nutty, balanced by delicate ripe orchard fruits. Then, lighter notes of an almondy fruit cake sit atop a denser layer of Christmas pudding. Behind, malty cereal notes are offset by aromatic orange. Much later: traces of brine and smoke, a little menthol and pine resin.

Palate

Dense and coating, spicy too; sweet, yet menthol- fresh. Filling and warming, with the comforting chewiness of rich fruit-bread and hints of orange zest and clove, before growing drier, still minty, with crisp green apple. Less dense and fruitier with just a little water, which allows the classic Oban fruit, malt, and maritime hints free reign until the balancing, drying spice returns.

Finish

In a word, long. Quite syrupy at first, then drying, with elegant coating tannins rich in dark chocolate character. Later, pine-fresh. At once cleansing yet chewy, with just a trace of late, slightly cedary, smoke.

The signature expression of Oban’s West Highland distillery is a fine sipper for any occasion, from taking the edge off after a rough day to hard-core whisky geekery.

Fast Facts

Classification single malt scotch

Company Diageo

Distillery Oban (West Highland, Scotland)

Cask type ex-bourbon American white oak

Released ongoing

Proof 86 (43% ABV)

Aged at least 14 years

MSRP $75

Awards Gold, 2018 Tastings.com International Review of Spirits; Silver, 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; Finalist (94 points), 2018 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; Gold, 2018 SIP Awards; 14 Year Single Malt of the Year, 2018 New York International Spirits Competition

Pros

• With just a light touch of smoke, this is a great “gateway” whisky for anyone interested in exploring smokier, peatier Islay malts.
• A quintessential Highland malt at a comparatively reasonable price, this delivers bang for the buck.

Cons

• The use of caramel coloring is unnecessary, and some argue that it affects the flavor.

Tasting Notes

Color: With a rich amber that belies its relatively young age (for a scotch, that is), it’s said that caramel coloring is used to darken its hue, as is the case with many Diageo-owned whiskies.

Nose: It’s quite floral and malty, with notes of honey and apricot. Let the glass sit for a few minutes, and the honeyed aromas become more pronounced.

Palate: Highland malts are all over the place stylistically, and so is Oban. It kicks off with sweet, luscious notes of apple and honey and a tongue-coating waxiness, which morphs into tart lemon and malt. Hold it on the tongue and saline, wisps of smoke, and a tingling oaky spice come to the fore.

Finish: Long and pleasant, malty with undercurrents of lemon curd

Our Review

The Oban distillery, in the West Highlands of Scotland, was founded in 1794, even before the town that bears the same name, and it hasn’t moved or expanded since then. A mere seven full-time employees operate the two stills that produce Oban. Given its distillery’s size, however, it’s a remarkably easy whisky to find. Credit for that goes to spirits behemoth Diageo, which acquired the distillery in 1989 and made it part of its Classic Malts collection.

The 14-year-old is the signature Oban expression. Highland malts can encompass a range of different styles, from Speyside sweetness to Islay-type smokiness, and Oban runs the gamut in a single sip, encompassing luscious fruity flavors, salinity and a light smokiness. (Many Highland whiskies are still lightly peated.)

Oban 14-year-old sits in a proverbial sweet spot: complex enough to take seriously but light and easy enough for everyday sipping. As with most single malts, it’s meant for sipping, not mixing, though it makes for a terrific scotch sour if you’re so inclined. It doesn’t quite scale the heights of top-tier Highland malts such as the 18-year-old expressions from Highland Park or GlenDronach, but it’s hard to imagine any whisky lover being disappointed by it.

Interesting Fact

The Oban distillery was founded before whisky distilling was legalized in Scotland.

The Bottom Line

It’s not a household name, but you’ll find Oban 14-year-old in the homes of a lot of single malt fans, and no bar with a solid whisky selection would be without it. And with good reason: It straddles the line between accessibility and complexity, giving every single malt fan a reason to enjoy it.

Is Oban 14 smooth?

This 86 proof whisky holds a delicate balance with notes of dried figs and honey-sweet spices followed by a long, smooth-sweet finish of oak wood and a hint of salt air. The best of the Highlands and coastal influences, and centuries of local distilling tradition are what make Oban's award-winning whisky so exquisite.

Why is Oban so expensive?

He said: “Oban Distillery is one of our smallest, producing premium single malt whisky that's in very high demand around the world. “The pricing of the brand reflects its premium quality, status, and popularity.”

Is Oban 14 Smokey?

Lightly smoky on the honeyed, floral nose. Toffee, cereal and a hint of peat. The palate offers initial cooked fruits, becoming spicier. Complex, bittersweet, oak and more gentle smoke.

How to enjoy Oban 14?

Oban 14 Year Old Enjoy the rich sweetness of Oban Single Malt Scotch Whisky, served neat, on ice, or with water.