Oban Little Bay

Duty free trap. Not like oban 14

Sweet then slight smoke , super smooth

Nose: Warm heather honey, sun-bleached grass, a bit of seashell, and a hint of pear. More fresh fruit, like berries and cream. A hint of orange hides in there as well, along with a little brine. I can pick up some oak and cinnamon spice at the back there. Palate: Oily and sweet. Green grass, coconut/strawberry/peach taffies, a hint of warm peat. Once I picked it up on the nose, I could finally put a name to it: "berries and cream". The peat there is almost a light, heathery, floral peat (almost cardamom-like) that I love. Definitely some shortbread cookie in there too. Earl grey tea and white pepper send it off. Finish: Long and sweet. The note that lingers reminds me of fruity saltwater taffy - like a somewhat dull tropical flavor without overwhelming sweetness. Sweet, buttery shortbread and that white pepper carry through as well. That bit of bergamot is definitely apparent once the hardier flavors pass. Conclusion: Wow! I was not expecting the explosion of fruit and flowers! I have a soft spot for Oban 14, but this absolutely blows that out of the water with layer after layer of fruit, cream, flowers, vanilla - like a whiskey parfait! For the price I paid, it would be hard to think of a better deal. Just enough peat without being overpowering, just enough fruity sweetness without being cloying, and bursting with a prairie of flowers.

Only other Oban expression I have had before was Oban 14 and I liked it a lot. The only thing that disappointed me was that i didn’t consider it too complex on flavors. Little Bay however, is the exact opposite. Both the nose and taste are deeply saturated in seemingly dozens of flavors. Nose: dried candied apricots, overripe apples, baking spices such as clove and star anise, sweet butter cream, and all rounded off by what I can only describe as a fresh baked and stuffed cannoli. Taste: slight ashy smokiness which is pleasant, candied fruits such as plums, apples, pineapple, and raisins, granulated cane sugar. Mid pallet fades into a silky milk chocolate and transitions on the end to those same baking spices I found on the nose. So glad I found this bottle before Fall. Once the temperatures go down this whiskey is going to be perfect for sitting next to a bonfire, or fire place after a good hearty meal.