Oban distillery was founded in 1794 in the small West Highland fishing town of the same name, and is unusual in that the town grew up around the distillery rather than the other way round. It remains one of Scotland's smallest and most traditional distilleries, and has been part of Diageo's Classic Malts Selection since 1989.
The 14 Year Old is matured for a minimum of fourteen years, producing a whisky that sits at the meeting point of Highland richness and coastal salinity — often described as combining the smoke of an Island malt with the sweetness of a Highland one.
The nose offers a rich sweetness of orange, lemon and pear alongside sea salt and a gentle peaty smokiness. The palate is mouth-filling, with late-autumn dried figs and honeyed spice giving way to a smoky, malty dryness.
The finish is long and smooth-sweet, rounded out with oak-wood dryness and a faint grain of salt. A beautifully balanced, food-friendly Highland malt for those who enjoy a touch of maritime character without overwhelming smoke.
