Oban Little Bay

Nose: sea air, caramel, fig Palate: caramel, spice, citrus Finish: medium finish, bitterness, little smoke

I think this is a really beautiful whisky. I find it to be more layered than other Highland Scotches. I give the credit to the small cask maturation. I think it’s fair to compare this to the Laphroaig Quarter Cask. The Laphroaig QC personally wasn’t my favorite because of the intense barrel tannins. It was a reasonably dry whisky and I believe Laphroaig is more at home as a meaty and juicy whisky. This is very different though, because unlike the Laphroaig, I believe the small casks give this Highland a beautiful oaky richness. Now it has some wood tannins but it’s not overpowering or dry. I think it has the wood notes that is missing in the Oban 14. This reminds me of the Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel reserve with more of a floral component. I think in this, the wood helps bring out the peatiness more so than the standard Oban 14. I actually prefer this to the 14. I find it more interesting and a little more complex. I don’t know what it is, but I happen to find that non-age-statement Scotches have a lot to offer. In many cases I like them more than the standard age statement releases. I know a lot of people only get Scotches that have ages on it because it makes them feel like there’s more prestige involved. I feel so bad for those people because they’re missing out on Scotches like the Ardbeg Corryvreckan, Laphroaig Lore, and this. Focus on the Juice, not the label.

The ocean meets my mouth. Sunken ships full of fruit wash along the shores of my tongue. This is a bay I’ll swim in for ages, I hope my children grow up here.

Lighter and more complex than the 14 year.

Raisins, honey, fig. Smooth all day. No peat. Incredible drink

Gentle, complex, great dram!