Origin: Highlands (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 56.2%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and refill
Chillfiltered: No
Added coloring: No
Owner: Diageo
Average price: € 130.00
Official website: www.obanwhisky.com
Vote: 85/100
Between the Highlands and the islands, where the Oban distillery is located, two twin foxes were born into light and dark. They were implacable opposites; one, with a bright orange coat, possessed the Highlands’ gift of lightness and speed; the other, dark as smoke, possessed the mystique of the islands. They cleverly contrasted and balanced each other, and now both are found on the label of this Oban Legends Untold version for the 2021 Special Release. The distillery had already joined the series in 2002, 2004 and 2013, so one of the sporadic presences in this particularly eagerly awaited release by fans.
Charred ex-Bourbon casks in a rare cask strength version – Oban isn’t exactly among my favourite distilleries, but I’m always prepared to be amazed.
Tasting notes
The nose is a snack of sweet crispy seaweed with a sprinkling of salt, vanilla, meringues, pear, almonds, green tea and a hint of leather. Almost imperceptible, in the background, a puff of smoke. Coastal and herbaceous.
The taste is crisp and lively, with a whiff of paprika that introduces a fruity core (pear, banana, plum) with acidic and citrus touches, scattered on a rather dry herbaceous and saline carpet. Marzipan, nuts, meringue and a hint of ash in the distance.
The finish is quite long and dry, of almonds, salt, white fruit, citrus and spices.
A rich, well-defined Oban, to which the alcohol strength has given a determination and substance that I have never found in the basic version. The smoky part is just an accent, but it’s precisely this lightness that contributes to the depth of the whisky.