Review by: dustbunna
Distillery: Oban.
Bottler: Distillery bottling.
Region: Highlands, Scotland.
ABV: 43%.
Age: 14 years. Bottled in 2025.
Cask type: Ex-bourbon/ex-sherry vatting.
Price: $60 USD for 750mL (on offer.)
Color added. Likely chill-filtered.
Bottle open across approx. 5 months, notes taken leisurely across that period. Bold notes taken beneath the shoulder, regular-formatted notes taken further into the bottle past the halfway point, italicized notes taken towards the heel.
Nose: fresh orange juice, lemon zest, dry grass, bruised apples.
Palate: medium-thin ~ grilled oranges and lemons (zest, pith and juice), chalk, a wisp of smoke, oak tannins, burnt dust.
Finish: medium length ~ on citrus and minerals, a gentle marine note (slightly salty, slightly fishy.)
Thoughts: Oban’s a distillery I want to like a lot, I find their whisky has often got a heavier body and a good mix of coastal, salty, and citrusy notes with a hint of smoke and char. Some of the special releases over the years have really spoken to me, but this standard 14yr I pass by all the time because it’s so darn expensive here for something bottled at 43%—that is, until it goes on sale and I can pick it up for cheap. What you get is a very standard, tasty whisky with a tiny bit of everything in it, so when my mood turns to Scotch that…well, tastes like Scotch, this is a pretty good candidate for that. It’s somewhat anemic compared to Oban’s cask strength releases, but still very easily drinkable and shareable.
Final Score: 82.
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.
Malt Runners 