Oban 14 Year Old is the distillery's main single malt and the West Highland entry in Diageo's Classic Malts. It sits between the smoky island malts and the softer Highland style, with orange, honey, sea salt and a light wisp of smoke.
About This Whisky
The 14 year old is bottled at 43% ABV and matured mainly in American oak casks that once held bourbon, which add vanilla and honey without masking the fruit and salt of the spirit. It was added to Diageo's Classic Malts series as the West Highland representative and has been the distillery's standard bottling ever since.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Orange and lemon peel, honeyed malt and sea salt, with ripe pear and a fine thread of wood smoke.
- Palate: Silky and rounded, with dried figs, orange marmalade and stone fruit, then cinnamon, nutmeg and a salty touch.
- Finish: Medium to long, with bitter orange, pepper and a light, mossy smoke.
Serving & Food
Versatile at 43%: sip it neat at room temperature, add an ice cube on a warm evening, or use it in a smoky highball with soda and orange peel. At the table, try smoked salmon, fish and chips or steamed garoupa with ginger and spring onion.
How to Enjoy
A reliable house malt, an easy gift, and a first step for anyone curious about coastal malts.
Product Details
Distillery: Oban
Origin: West Highland, Scotland
Age Statement: 14 years old
Category: Single malt Scotch whisky
Series: Diageo Classic Malts
Cask: Mainly ex-bourbon American oak
ABV: 43%
Volume: 700mL
About the Distillery
Oban works with just two small copper pot stills, one wash still and one spirit still. When they were replaced in spring 2023 the new pair were built as exact copies of the old ones, so that the spirit would not change. Oban's weight comes from two traditional choices. Fermentation in its wooden washbacks runs long, roughly 65 to 110 hours, which builds fruity esters. The stills then run into worm tubs, coiled copper pipes in tanks of water outside, which keep the spirit oily and full. Diageo owns the distillery.