Whisky: Oban 12 Year, 2021 Special Release

Country/Region: Scotland/Highland

ABV: 56.2%

Cask: Charred American Oak, Refill Casks

Age: 12 Years (Distilled 2008, Bottled 2021)

Nose: Charcoal, honey, butterscotch, buttercream, mild salinity, hints of herbal tea, lime, rice wine, rice cake.

Palate: Medium to full-bodied with charcoal ash, honey, candied orange peel, lime, tamarind, toasted nuts, maritime salt, and sweet rice cake at the end.

Finish: Medium-length with blood orange, salt, and hints of herbal tea.

Score: 7

Commentary: Another Round with Dessert

Narrative & Notes: The aroma swept me up on a late-night journey— charcoal drafting supplies hinted at art studios and landscape sketches, while honey, buttercream, and butterscotch pulled toward dessert or sweet coffee treats. Herbal tea developed with a mellow salinity as lime and lime leaves gave the impression of cocktails and infused liquors. The sometimes effervescent makgeolli, Korean rice wine, joined the party with a bundle of gelatinous Chinese sweet rice cakes. Medium to full-bodied, the spirit had a good weight and a well-integrated flavor profile. Slightly acrid charcoal ash hit the palate first, but only for a brief hello as it had somewhere to be; lime, blood orange, candied orange peel, and tamarind followed and lingered for longer. A maritime salt pulled the experience together as toasted Brazil nuts, makgeolli, and sweet steamed rice cake lingered on the back end. Those sweet grainy rice notes faded on the medium-length finish as blood orange, salt, and herbal hints of tea held on.

I have done enough whisky reviews that I rarely get to review a Scottish distillery for the first time anymore. Somehow I skipped Oban over seven hundred times as I chased other drams, but here I am, finally settled down to review a recent cask strength special release. Cask strength Oban does not grow on trees, so this bottle was a special treat. Even better, it was very well-reviewed, and just about every Oban-o-phile I know loved it. I can see why. The flavors were interesting and well-integrated, with a lovely undercurrent of salt to tie them together.

Overall, I’m here for it; this was good.

Image Credit: Reserve Bar