Going into this dram, I knew it would be difficult for the Oban to top the sheer excellence and deliciousness of the Little Bay - even when comparing a NAS to a 14 year old. At 43%, the Oban 14 Year was a very pleasant and smooth whisky. There was no burn, nor was there a bite making it a very easy-drinking Scotch. The nose was delight - comparable to walking into the kitchen of an old bakery on Sunday morning. There were notes of barley, cereal grains, and a hint of cooked fruit in the form of poached pears. On the palate, you're hit with immediate sweetness by the likes of caramel and simple syrup that later dissolve into light smokiness and sea salt. The finish, albeit short, leaves you with a subtle taste of baking spices, predominantly nutmeg. Overall, it's a pleasant single malt that makes for easy drinking following a protein-heavy meal. That being said, I felt the flavour profiles under-delivered considering the age of the whisky. It was not as complex as I had anticipated and despite airing out the whisky a little longer, the changes were very discreet (if any). Circling back to which Oban I prefer, I'm going to hang on to my Little Bay a little closer knowing how much of a gem it is. NOSE: Toasted barley, oatmeal, cereal grains, poached pears, leather PALATE: Caramel, simple syrup, light smoke, sea salt, rice FINISH: Lingering smoke, sea salt, malted barley, nutmeg Rating: 82/100 Grade: B- Not-too-bad – no major flaws, worth tasting.