“Oban” means “Little Bay" in Gaelic; thus this is “Little Bay Little Bay.” LB2 is a no-age statement (NAS) whisky; the distillery says that it “takes mature small batch Oban Single malt” without quantifying what exactly “mature” means. It then finishes them in smaller barrels, providing more wood exposure. Deep tawny gold color. Complex, fruity nose has the classic Oban ripe pear, with honey, quince, guava, and fig preserves on toast. Viscous mouthfeel reveals orange chocolate, light ethanol, faint peat, and white pepper, finishing with some pleasantly drying leather, a whiff of smokiness, and bitter chocolate. 43% ABV. LB2 has more intensity than the Oban 14 or 18, with a more robust flavor profile, not dissimilar to the Distiller’s Edition (minus the sherry cask finishing). At around $50, this is one of the best scotch whisky values out there, combining complexity and easy-drinking sweetness that is appealing to both afficionado and neophyte alike. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.