Lately, my whisky tasting sessions have been dominated by intense, forceful whiskys. You know the ones. Those vibrant blends that are full of dark notes: smoke, peat and fire. Well, today I got a chance to try a middle-aged Oban Single Malt, and let me say it wasn’t fire and brimstone with this one.
History
Instead of being a distillery raised among a town of people making their own whisky, the Oban distillery was the bulb from which the town of Oban blossomed. In the late 1700s, a pair of brothers converted their brewery into a distillery. It would become the heart of one of the gateway towns to the Highlands. Nestled between Lochs, one could almost miss Oban en route to the Highlands. But if you did that would be a mistake, because you would be missing the whisky hearts of the region.
Whisky
The bottle is simple and succinct. The malt glowing inside is a golden malt with a tinge of orange and amber. It reminds me of a dark honey by color, though certainly makes its identity of whisky known as we open the bottle.
The scent is gentle and polite. It’s a refreshing blend of summer fruits and vanilla. It rolls over my senses with a melon and there is a crisp touch of leather. It smells like summer. In the background, there is a soft citrus sparkle and a light spice note. Despite the presence of a ginger note, this one promises to be gentle.
Once on the tongue, Oban’s single malt makes good on its promise. It is smooth and silky, and a pure pleasure to sample. Its fruity but combined with the whisky this is cooked fruit. There is a yeasty note behind this fruit, and this whisky reminds me of pie, perhaps peach or apricot. It is sweet but there is a good balance here.
The flavor fades quickly but finishes in a bubble of ginger and fruit before its gone. It leaves you feeling very light and fresh.
Price: $50 – $60
Other Notes: This would be good with dessert or lighter meals.
Quick Notes:
Smell: fruit, vanilla, melon, leather, ginger,
Taste: fruit pie, yeast, peach, apricot, ginger