Oban 10 Year The Celestial Blaze (2022 Special Release)

As one of Diageo's premier malts, Oban is consistently selected for their annual Special Releases. The label features a mystical leaping rabbit, tying into Oban's folklore. Bottled at 57.1% ABV, this expression was aged in American oak casks and then finished in amontillado Sherry butts. On the nose, it begins with a very grape-like, berry aroma. Smokey. Cotton candy, malted barley. It smells very sugary. More berries, hazelnut, chocolate. Highly inviting. On the palate, it starts with grapes and vanilla. Blackberries; it's wild. An intense burst of salt appears unexpectedly; it's very powerful. The aftertaste has "Oban" unmistakably present. Salt, ginger, grapes. A faint, secondary aftertaste of hazelnut emerges. It appears ten seconds after the initial finish. Overall, I genuinely enjoyed this dram. Diageo's special releases aren't always memorable, but this one might stick with me for a long time. It's not overly complex; it's simply an enjoyable whisky. My rating is 88 out of 100.

(Good Spirits Co. Glasgow – Virtual Whisky Tasting, November 19, 2022). Aroma: Sweet, toffee, candy, strawberry laces, fruit salad sweets. Palate: Spicy – white pepper, cloves, licorice, cardamom. Floral – gorse, Orchard fruit – apples, pears. There is a slightly musty wood note. Finish: A long finish. Leather, menthol, citrus, musty wood, licorice, dark chocolate, fresh chili peppers. The Celestial Blaze: Named in honor of the Aurora Borealis / Northern Lights. Finished in refill and virgin American oak. Further double maturation in ex-Amontillado sherry casks. Sweet and very spicy. A pervasive mustiness that I usually appreciate, but here it is unbalanced against the sweetness and spiciness. It's not a bad drink; it possesses a complexity that would typically be excellent, but the interactions between the layers are too abrupt for my preference. Finished third out of the six drams, receiving 8% of the votes for favorite of the night. 38% of attendees indicated they enjoyed the whisky.

The professional tasting notes are accurate. The only addition I would make is that I detect significant buttered popcorn and white pepper notes.

Sweet, potent, fiery, pleasant initially, with a lengthy finish that becomes harsh towards the end.

Fruity floral aroma. Spicy peppery initial taste. Floral finish that persists for some time.

Flavors of yogurt-covered raisins alongside the typical scotch maltiness.