Oban Distillers Edition

Long lasting finish. Smooth and complex

Too smoky for my taste

The Diageo Distiller's Edition line of cask matured malts has yet to disappoint me, and this is no exception. The standard bottling of Oban is always reliably pleasant - mellow citrus, hint of sea breeze, creamy maltiness, hint of very distant smoke in the background to add a bit of complexity. It was a smart move to meld this with a Fino sherry cask; the salty, dry, nutty, slightly funky-sweet bite of Fino goes well with the generally mild, lightly fruity Oban house style. On the nose is a more pronounced salty note than in the standard bottling, with candied orange peel and lemon, a dry maltiness, and a creamy, sweet fruitiness. The mouth is equally complex, as salty, fruity-sweet, and savory herbal tones compete with each other, but in the most harmonious of ways. It's like tug-of-war, but performed by Cirque de Soleil. The finish is moderately long and winds up with a bit of dry malt, the faintest hint of smoke, and a bit of slightly astringent wood. This isn't quite the marvel that the Talisker or Lagavulin DEs are, but then again, Oban's normal bottlings aren't (for me) as impressive as the standard entries from aforementioned distilleries, either. On its own merits, this is still a great dram and worth seeking out.