Oban Little Bay

Sweet fruit nose. Soft rich flavor. Short finish but nice.

Open 9 months Nose - Black pepper, ocean brine, honeysuckle, Honey Nut Cheerios, green apple, conifer mix, light oak, and light ethanol. Palate - Very light honey and honeysuckle, peppery malt, brine, green apple, pear, spiced orange, and hint of bitterness. Finish is medium-short with more dry oak tannins, black pepper, over steeped chai tea, and light ethanol. This was a holiday gift, something I don't see in NC despite the presence of Oban 14. While much cheaper than Oban 14, this isn't as good. I like it, but if you desire an affordable Highland-style malt with a clear ocean influence, I recommend the cheaper Old Pulteney 12. Or for a similar price the unpeated Bruichladdich.

Honey, apple, walnut and caramel on the nose. Really interesting taste that I wasn’t expecting despite the reviews. I don’t even know how to place it, I get caramel, citrus, smoke, leather, spice, chocolate, and I’m not sure what else but it seems to work. I definitely need to revisit this but interesting mix that’s a bit different than scotch I’ve had so far.

Nose is stewed fruits with a dusty light floral spritz; think eating orange marmalade on a cracker adjacent to a wedding bouquet. Go too deep and you’ll find ethanol, but keep your nose above that and it’s rather pleasing, if not exactly exciting. Palate opens creamy sweet with more stone fruits and vanilla, midway turning to bitter grass and then even more bitter wood before a tingly, dry close. Very similar to the Oban 18, lacking only a little depth of flavor and the silkiness and maybe a smidge of the sweetness. I actually prefer this to the 18 because it’s more steady throughout, there are no disappointing surprises. It’s 95% of the 18 year experience, at 40% of the cost. It’s also a glaring reminder to not spend more than $80 on anything Diageo (except maybe Laga 12).