Oban Little Bay

This is a non-age-statement single malt Scotch with 43% ABV, matured in refill American oak hogsheads, European oak Sherry casks, and refill casks with new ends, then blended and finished in small oak casks. Tasted after initial opening. It has a tawny color. Swirling reveals a thick coating on the glass, with slow-forming legs. The nose is fruit-forward, featuring crisp apples and orange zest, accompanied by sweet honey and floral notes, plus a hint of black coffee. The palate is spicy and fruity, with stewed apples, soft pears, orange peel, black pepper, cinnamon, and bitter oak tannins. The finish is of medium length. It begins with grain cereal before turning dry and slightly bitter. It then transitions to apple peel and grapefruit, ending with more oak. A faint wisp of smoke is present throughout, almost imperceptible unless specifically sought out. Adding a few drops of water amplified the honey on the nose and introduced some nice charred notes on the palate, making the smoke in the finish a bit more apparent. Overall, it's a decent bottle and an easy drinker. I'm glad I bought it on sale, but I won't repurchase it when it's gone, as I prefer other easy-drinking options and don't consider it worth the full retail price.

It has a very fruity character, somewhat like peach. The profile is grain-forward with significant malt presence – evoking chewy barley. There's a subtle hint of smoke. Pleasant coastal, briny, salty, oceanic notes are present. However, the finish is where this whiskey truly falls short for me. It presents a dry, unusual, citrusy sherry character, reminiscent of a strong fino. This aspect overpowers everything, and I simply do not care for it. I've encountered whiskeys with similar flavor profiles where they worked exceptionally well. In my view, it doesn't succeed here; it disrupts rather than complements the existing elements. It creates a puckering sensation, making me wish for the return of the sweet fruity/malty notes and the departure of the excessively tart, dry flavor. Regrettably, that overly tart, dry sherry persists. I can understand how some might enjoy this, but it's not for me. If Oban and drier sherry notes appeal to you, this might be suitable. I personally prefer my sherry and sherry finishes to be sweet. This is far too dry for my preference. I'm not convinced PX would resolve this, but I suspect it would be more appealing if the sweetness were increased slightly. It's not a bad whiskey, but I'll definitely pass. There are few single malts I actively dislike, but this one makes the list. While I can appreciate its technical execution, I don't genuinely enjoy it. I feel the need to travel to Islay and lick some freshly smoked peat to cleanse my palate 😝.

The nose offers stewed fruits with a faint floral spritz; imagine consuming orange marmalade on a cracker near a wedding bouquet. Delve too deep, and you'll encounter ethanol, but staying above that level provides a rather pleasant, though not particularly exciting, aroma. The palate begins creamy and sweet with more stone fruits and vanilla, transitioning mid-palate to bitter grass and then even more bitter wood before a tingling, dry conclusion. It closely resembles the Oban 18, lacking only a bit of flavor depth, silkiness, and perhaps a touch of sweetness. I actually prefer this to the 18 because its character is more consistent throughout, without any disappointing shifts. It delivers 95% of the 18-year experience at 40% of the price. It also serves as a stark reminder not to spend over $80 on any Diageo product (with the possible exception of Lagavulin 12).

Smell - grapes, stone fruit, and a trace of vanilla, no burn Taste - a bit of oakiness, vanilla with a touch of honey, tingle from the alcohol on the tongue Finish - slight bit of grape flavor with more honey, sweetness that tapers off with a burn left on the tongue for a moment, harsh with the burn at first but settles as the bottle was consumed Score - 4.0 Scoring Legend 5.0 - Outstanding, unmatched by others 4.5 - Excellent, I will always keep a bottle in stock if possible 4.0 - Very good, quite enjoyable to drink, can be considered a solid choice 3.5 - Good, would taste again 3.0 - Average 2.5 - Acceptable, still drinkable 2.0 - Inferior, able to drink but not enjoyable 1.5 and below—wouldn’t drink again unless I am desperate

Opened 9 months ago. Nose - Black pepper, ocean brine, honeysuckle, breakfast cereal, green apple, pine blend, mild oak, and slight ethanol. Palate - Very subtle honey and honeysuckle, peppery malt, brine, green apple, pear, spiced citrus, and a touch of bitterness. Finish is short-to-medium with more dry oak tannins, black pepper, over-steeped chai, and light ethanol. This was a holiday gift, something not seen in North Carolina despite the availability of Oban 14. While much less expensive than Oban 14, this isn't as good. I enjoy it, but if you want an inexpensive Highland-style malt with a distinct ocean influence, I suggest the less costly Old Pulteney 12. Or for a comparable price, the unpeated Bruichladdich.

Nose: light fruit, mild citrus, a trace of caramel and wood (the nose is somewhat muted as I'm not using a proper glass for this) Palate: gentle peat, very low smoke, vibrant fruitiness, notes of berries and cream. A soft woodiness that transitions into the drying finish. An almost dark/earthy Sherry note. Hints of caramel, honey, and a touch of brown sugar Finish: mild drying and wood tannins. Smooth with a whisper of fruit, a hint of phenolic/rubber