Review by: Raygun

Cask strength Oban is not terribly common, so it already gets my attention. Then we have Palo Cortado finishing, also pretty rare. Oban IBs are very few and far between, so these occasional limited releases are about the only way to try it when it’s not watered down. This was a US exclusive release from a couple of years ago. Reviewed from a sample. Rested about 15 minutes.

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Distillery: Oban

Bottler: Oban  

Region/style: Highlands single malt Scotch 

ABV: 55.3%. Cask strength.

Age: 15 years. Bottled on October 9, 2024.  

Cask type: Oloroso and Palo Corado finish, presumably initial bourbon maturation

Color: 1.5 auburn. Natural color and non-chill-filtered.

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Nose: That is a whole lot of fig. The figgiest Scotch I’ve ever smelled. Then I pick up some chocolate and grapes. A bit of lime leaf.                      

Palate: Packs some heat. The palate is no less figgy than the nose: those who don’t like figs are warned to stay away. Grapes, chocolate, pasilla chile, almonds, and some white pepper. Shows better with some water, becoming more chocolatey. Subdues the heat as well. It does bring out some sulfur. 

Finish: Did I mention figs? Also aged balsamic vinegar, and it leans into the chocolate more. More fruity sort of chile, almonds, and dried currants. A little hint of citrus, too. Overall pretty rich though.  

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Conclusion: Shy it is not. This is a powerhouse. Nearly as intense as the Glengoyne Teapot Dram I reviewed a few weeks ago. Water helps. It brings a lot of flavor, but not the place to taste the subtleties of Oban. Still, there are nice casks here. Would work best as the final pour of the night, because it is so strong. I prefer things a little more subtle these days.

Score: 82

Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
• 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)