Oban 12 Year (2021 Special Release)

Pale straw with a viscous appearance in the glass. The nose is likewise pale but pleasant. Strawberry, green apple, and honey. There’s a bit of dusty wood, white pepper. With time and some intention a bit of sulfur and salt. This will sound plain wrong, but there’s almost a pizzeria aroma in there as well - charred crust, zesty San Marzano’s and smoked meat all in one. For 58% ABV this is dangerously easy on the palate. Slightly viscous and with an unfolding palate. Sultanas, vanilla, oak, green apple, agave, ginger, coffee, a gently rising and then falling campfire smoke, bit of tobacco. There’s a salted fish element, maybe sea bass? It’s not prominent but is interesting. Oil fried plantains? This finish just doesn’t stop. This is bizarre but works. That’s lovely and really sticks around. The ex-bourbon influence gives it a bit of dark sugar character - less fruity than the nose would suggest and with plenty of earthy spice. The salt is almost a salted toffee quality. That’s all without water - leaving me to wonder… what a bout just a few drops. The mix of pizzeria and malt sweetness move forward and the strawberry note has gone. The flavors all tend to hit at once now - like a pissed off Bruce Lee. Gonna feel that for a while, in a good way. If I had any particular criticism it is that the water allows a bit of bitterness to sneak into the finish. The next criticism is the price, and really the limited availability. The variety of flavors keeps this interesting from start to finish, but no one flavor really grabs me. It’s almost a little too busy. There aren’t really any soft edges or dusty notes, but at the price point I’m satisfied. Overall this is a shapeshifting beast. I love it. Maybe an extra quarter point for the artwork.