Oban (1997) Distillers Edition

Review by: TOModera

For my next trick at the Albanach, I decided to try out a distillery that I am not a fan of. As many who have memorized my comments and can read my mind know (so… no one), I wasn’t a fan of Oban 14 . And I gave it many times to be good, finally sitting down with a mini and sludging through the above review.

So why not put myself though that pain again? I am kinda a masochist. This time it was the Oban 1997 Montilla Fino Finish – Distillers Edition. I assume that the different finish would pair well, opening up new flavours in the typical Oban profile and pairing well to really bring myself, a philistine of HIghland whisky, out of my foolish, negative thoughts on this distillery.

Or maybe I’m about to be whipped.

For those wondering, Montilla Fino is a Spanish dessert wine that uses procedures similar to Sherry when made. As someone who loves dessert wines quite a bit, this seems like the perfect option to be used with whisky.

Distillery: Oban Distillery.

Bottler: Distillery Bottling.

Region: Highland.

ABV: 43%.

Age: 15 years. Distilled in 1997. Bottled in 2012.

Cask type: Double Matured in Montilla Fino Sherry Wood.

Price: $134.95 (CAD) at the LCBO in Ontario

Color: Burnt Orange

Nose: Vanilla perfume, Bed, Bath, & Beyond store, lots of orange, lime, fake raspberry

Okay, so there’s a lot of perfume on this one, and I’m not always a big fan of that, but let’s give it some time.

Hey, why am I being tied down?

Taste: Heather, honey, strawberry, sea air, cheap white chocolate, blueberry, vanilla, perfume

Whip Oh! Okay, so it’s still really fake and perfume like, but there’s some sea air, right? That helps, right?

Whip Crap!

Finish: White wine, lime meat, pear, vanilla, old stale chips

Whip! Whip! Oh god make it stop! There’s a very stale and really sweet taste now.

Conclusion:

Whip Ouch! Okay, that’s enough! I’m out of here!

I don’t know if they pulled it too soon or the dessert wine has a perfumed flavour as well, but this is too much. It tastes fake, it’s weak, there’s not enough bourbon and there’s not enough contrast to make me want this. It’s cloyingly sweet, boring, and has parts of it that taste like not-food. It’s not all horrible, but it just isn’t something I’d buy a bottle of.

Final Score: 74.

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

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