Oban Young Teddy Maclean

The Maclean family is synonymous with Oban Single Malt. "Old Teddy" Maclean served as distillery manager from 1953 to 1985, succeeded by his son, "Young Teddy," who led until 2017 before handing over to Derek Maclean. To honor this lineage, Oban released a limited edition "Old Teddy" in 2019, exclusively at the distillery. Following its depletion, the "Young Teddy" was introduced, finished in Oloroso and Palo Cortado sherry casks and bottled at 50.8% ABV, with only 4542 bottles produced. On the nose, there's an immediate scent of hay, followed by honey, peach, and pineapple. The white sherry is clearly dominant, with notes of white chocolate, malted barley, and significant sweetness. After a few sips, the Oloroso sherry influence emerges, bringing abundant peach flavors. The palate feels thin initially but proves surprisingly capable. It offers sugary notes, hay, and a grassy honey. There's a salty element and a Palo Cortado sherry presence. The finish is particularly intriguing due to the rare Palo Cortado influence. It presents a distinct white sherry character, feeling both unusual and remarkably bold – a superb conclusion. Overall, this is one of the most outstanding expressions I've encountered from this distillery. It was genuinely very good and enjoyable. The Palo Cortado cask maturation imparted complex and appreciated flavors. My rating is a solid 88 out of 100.

Fantastic!