Oban Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky The Distillers Edition 2022
The tiny distillery of Oban was founded by brothers Hugh and John Stevenson in 1794 and the town grew up around it. Oban was advertised to be “the finest small still whisky in the Highlands” by new owner J. Walter Higgin in 1883. The Oban Distillers Edition is a collection of master-craftsmanship. Each cask in the series is individually selected and perfectly matched to the character of each of the single malts refined here. The two-parted maturation process gives more depth and complexity, which is the idea behind the limited Distillers Edition: preserving the perfection of the single malts that have already been awarded for their outstanding flavours. This excellent Oban variant has been firstly matured in Refill American and European Oak casks. With the second maturation finished in Montilla Fino-seasoned re-charred American Oak and heavily re-charred new AO ends. To underline its sea-laced flavours, the Master Distiller of Oban has chosen Montilla Fino. This dry, delicate cask beautifully enhances the distinctively graceful style of Oban. Creamy-smooth marriage of grape, sea air and spiciness. On the nose Oban opens very fine, clean and sweet with hints of salty sea breeze and a light, grapey note from the dry Fino, then grows more pungent with time, to hints of smoke and spice. The palate is creamy smooth, sweet and gently grapey to start; then waves of malty flavour develop, all held together by a real backbone of sea salt and gentle white-pepper spiciness. Delicious and easy to drink. The finish is long, attractively sweet-smoky and clean, with appetising oak-spice. Drying, with an attractive, lightly peppery aftertaste.