I’m one of those folks who likes Oban. There, I got that off my chest. The nose of Oban 14 is provocative - an alluring blend of figs, a sweetness like white chocolate fudge, a gentle smoke (like a pleasant candle that was recently blown out), and a whiff of the sea. The palate delivers - more figs, the sweetness becomes honey, followed by spice, smoke, and sea salted malt. It’s a rich dram with a smooth mouthfeel. The finish is long and wonderfully balanced: fruit, sweets, (light) peat, and dry wood bow out. The fruit/sweet/malt/smoke/salt balance really works for me as a great dram for capturing summer ending and fall beginning. It’s a little lower on the VFM scale at ~$60 per bottle, but I find that easier to overlook given the distillery and the whisky’s unique character. I haven’t tasted anything else quite like it. And then it leaves me wanting another taste. Which I will gladly pour. Sláinte! 4.0 ~ 89 ~ Great