ctbeck11
Oban Little Bay
Single Malt — Highlands, Scotland
Reviewed
January 6, 2021 (edited March 5, 2021)
Nose - apple, plum, raisin, honey, strawberry, hay, Ovaltine, cocoa, peach, pear, cashew, grape, honeysuckle, sweet oak, subtle peat, mild ethanol burn.
Taste - strawberry, pear, fig, green apple, honey, cashew, almond, ginger, cereal grain, black pepper, mint, dry oak, cocoa, clove, allspice, hay, creme brûlée crust, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium short with cocoa, tannic oak, and green apple flavors.
Ten points to Oban for hitting me with another aroma from my childhood: Ovaltine! The 14 Year smacked me in the face with champagne gummy bears. It’s been close to a year since I’ve tried the 14 Year, but I think I like this NAS offering slightly more. The sherry influence is present but not overpowering, and integrates well with the classic Oban distillery character.
I won’t be able to rate it extremely high, because the youth leaves the palate a bit malty and sour and the finish a bit short, but this is one I would absolutely drink with no disappointment. Unfortunately, a bottle is priced at $70 near me, which is too high and pits it unfavorably against some other delightful offerings in that range.
Thanks to @ContemplativeFox for providing the sample. It was worth it just for that Ovaltine note which brought back some good memories.
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@cascode Unfortunately I only had a sample of this, but I’m sure I’ll cross paths with more in the future.
Oban is a curious malt. If you have a bottle of this taste it agian in a week. I bet anything you will find new notes. It's a most mercurial whisky.
I too paid 35 in Ma but dont think its worth more than high 40s
@bigwhitemike Thanks! I was quite surprised how tannic it really was for being (likely) pretty young. I didn’t pick up on it after the first few sips, but by the end of the glass it was very noticeable. Not unpleasant, but heading in that direction.
Great review and conclusions. Very malty, a plethora of flavors, a bit brash, sour, and tannic. If you like a malty backbone, modest sherry profile and a dash of sour assertiveness, this likely beats out the (now quite pricy) 14 year, which is a bit more mellow. @ContemplativeFox @jonwilkinson7309 I’ve continued to occasionally see bottles for $40 through 2020, perhaps pre-tariff stock, but across the street listed at $70. A very strange bottle to get a read on and tariffs don’t explain that differential. Very compelling at $40, still a solid buy at $50, but certainly a hard pass at $70 IMO unless it’s totally your jam.
@jonwilkinson7309 Wow, I really picked the wrong time to start this hobby.
@ContemplativeFox @ctbeck To further expand the price range on this one...I saw it at a number of liquor stores in MA for less than $40, pre-tariffs. I believe it's crept up a bit since then, but still well under $50. One of the more extreme examples of regional pricing that I've seen. I bought a bottle for $35 about a year and a half ago and was satisfied with it at that price. At $70, I would have been underwhelmed.
@ContemplativeFox I’d absolutely buy a bottle at $50. Too many other good options above that.
Great notes. I'm confused by the pricing on this one. I've seen it from $50 to $85.