Oban Little Bay

From WhiskyFest

Nose: Pears, salt, peat, mild smoke, vanilla Palate: Pears, brine, honey, smoke Finish: Smoke, oak Almost the same as the 14 year old but everything is a little bit restrained here. Maybe a little thinner too. No reason to buy this as the 14 year old is only 10€ more.

Light fruits like peaches on the nose, quite sweet as well. Lovely to sip with just the right amount of bite but still smooth. Slightly peaty to keep things interesting through the sweet

Review #067 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 43% Comments: NAS, matured in refill American oak hogsheads, European oak Sherry casks, and refill casks with new ends, then married and finished in small oak casks Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Tawny color. Swirling reveals a thick line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 15/20 It’s fruit forward on the nose, with crips apples and orange zest. Sweet honey accompanies floral notes, and there’s a hint of black coffee as well. Palate: 28/40 Spicy and fruity. Stewed apples, mushy pears, orange peel, black pepper, cinnamon, and bitter oak tannins. Finish: 30/40 Medium finish. Starts off as grain cereal before becoming dry and a bit bitter. Transitions to apple peel and grapefruit, then ending with more oak. There’s a wisp of smoke throughout the finish also, but it’s so faint you might miss it if you’re not looking for it. With Water: A couple drops of water enhanced the honey profile on the nose. It also introduced some nice charred notes on the palate and made the smoke on the finish a bit more evident. Total: 73/100 Final thoughts: Not a bad bottle by any means, it’s definitely an easy drinker. Glad I picked this one up when I saw it on sale and had the opportunity to try it, but I won’t be replacing it once it’s gone. There’s other easy drinkers that I prefer and I don’t think it’s worth it at full retail price. Price: $51 Would recommend: no Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.