I received a rather lovely bottle of Oban 18 year for Christmas from a friend and neighbor. A surprising gift, considering that he is not a whiskey man himself. The nose is bright and vibrant with citrus shining past all else. There's some sweet orange jam with honey, prunes and a very faint, interesting water biscuit thing going on in the background. As you take in the sip, tannic oak opens up with some apples and tongue tingling spice reminiscent of a hot toddy. This whiskey is very very dry, with flavors of leather coming out on the back half of the palate. There's also a tiny bit of dried seaweed there... almost peat smoke in quality but not quite there. As the spice and tongue pricking subsides and amongst the remnants of the dry back of the taste, some sweetness finds its way back on the finish in the form of honey and raisins but it isn't strong. Not nearly as strong as the palate. It is however; quite long and satisfying. There's a bit too much spice and dryness going on here for me but I prefer sweet and oily whiskies. I guess that's why I am inherently a bourbon man myself. That said, it's an interesting and definitely unique selection.