Scotch

Whisky Review: Oban 14-Year-Old

We review Oban 14-Year-Old, the flagship whiskey from one of Diageo's oldest and smallest whisky distilleries.

OVERALL RATING

9
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Oban14YO-f

Tasting Notes

About:

86 proof, 14 years old, single malt. A 750ml bottle will run you around $60.
Appearance:
Oban 14-Year-Old is packaged in one of the whisky industry’s most beautiful canisters, a cream-and-blue affair adorned with a gorgeous, evocative line drawing of sea birds resting on craggy cliffs. The color of the whisky is a rich amber.
Nose:
Lovely sweet aromas of toffee and sticky pudding greet the nose. There’s smoke, but it’s definitely subtle, more a waft than a plume. A surprising amount of tropical fruit also comes through on the nose—caramelized pineapple and plantains, lychee, orange —plus a dusting of zesty cinnamon and nutmeg. Lovely.
Palate:
The initial entry is just like putting a big pat of buttercream frosting right on your tongue, quickly followed by tinned fruit cocktail, pineapple and orange and lychee, with a strong caramelized element. Sherry-like flavors of almond and ranice emerge in the mid-palate, accompanied by some nice crunchy sea salt. The overall experience is sweet and lush, but Oban 14 finishes on a welcome bright, acidic note, like apple cider with lemon, or brioche topped with zingy lemon curd.
Finish:
Comments:
Oban 14-year-old is just straight-up yummy, balanced and beautiful, multifaceted without being aggressive. There’s tons of fruit and pastry, but just enough peat to keep the stuff from coming off as saccharine. Busting out a bottle of this after your next dinner party will make for some very happy guests.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Margarett Waterbury

Margarett Waterbury is the author of "Scotch: A Complete Introduction to Scotland's Whiskies" and a full-time freelance writer and editor specializing in the beverage industry. Her work has graced the pages of numerous publications, including Whisky Advocate, Food and Wine, Spirited Magazine, Artisan Spirit, Edible Seattle, Sip Northwest, Civil Eats, Travel Oregon, and many others. She also boasts editorial experience as the former managing editor of Edible Portland and as a co-founder and former managing editor of The Whiskey Wash. In recognition of her talent, Margarett received the Alan Lodge Young Drinks Writer of the Year award in 2017 and was awarded fellowships for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in 2017 and 2019.

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