Oban 12 Year (2021 Special Release)

Butterscotch and caramel, smooth finish with moderate spice. Hint of peat

“Diageo Special Releases 2021” tasting at The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 22 June 2022. Whisky #5 Nose: Chalk (seashells), salt-encrusted beach rocks, kelp, turmeric, mustard, green apple skins, black olives, sweet orange extract and a strong ale-like maltiness. Softer, more floral and with greater integration after the addition of a dash of water and a rest in the glass for a few minutes. Palate: Sweet, full arrival with citrus fruits, salted caramel and a little vanilla. In the development the palate expands into new territory with balsamic vinegar, more brine, mustard, ginger powder and other curry spices all appearing. However, this is a measured progression and the palate never seems too busy. The texture is rich, full and provides a pleasant oily mouthfeel, but it’s not creamy - more like olive oil. Be cautious of adding too much water, however, as this makes the spicy characteristics retreat and the palate turn to a more simplistic sweet profile. Finish: Medium/long. Complex and mildly spicy/sweet. An interesting expression of Oban that has a lot going on but is not especially difficult or challenging, just a little unusual. There were a lot of intriguing aromas presented that blindsided me to start with and required time to identify. I love that! It also improved over the course of the evening. On first nosing it I thought it was messy and lacked integration, like an experimental savory/sweet curry that is not quite properly adjusted yet. However over time (and I’m sure it was partly me adjusting to its profile) I came to appreciate it more. A good whisky, on the whole. I thought it did not have the polish that some of the other expressions displayed, but then it was also way more interesting than the first two whiskies on the card. I don't think anyone voted for this as the best whisky of the night, but it did receive a lot of favourable comments. “Very Good” : 85/100 (4 stars)

Cream buns on the nose and evaporative goodness

Lean with a balanced smoke.