People can't agree about this one. | Oban 14 REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 12 гру 2024
- I've got a pretty famous single malt scotch whisky from the Oban distillery in the highlands today. This is their famous 14 year old. It's part of the "Classic Malts" range from Diageo. I'll taste it and give you my thoughts. Cheers!
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Scores:
0-75 - Crap
75-79 - For cocktails & people you don't like
80-82 - Not bad
83-85 - Getting good here
86-89 - Delicious
90-94 - Awesome
95-100 - Cowabunga Dudes
Music: freemusicarchi...
After trying many different scotches my life it is the ONLY one I will ever buy again. I have a heightened sense of taste and smell. It is unique and perfect. I could care less what anyone else thinks. To each his own.
Agree. This is one of my favorites.
I also agree. My favourite after trying many different single malt.
@@ironKurgan You have good taste.
For me, oban 14 is the perfect chameleon whisky, it changes every time I pop the Cork, its so dependent on what I've drank or eaten during the day.
So good
Again a very good review Geoff, well done.
Oban is very underrated.
Thank you Hans! Cheers! 🥃
Love this stuff, honey and flowers on the nose!
It's a stunner!
I am so glad I found your channel.
Straight and to the point and with tasting notes that are relatable.
Very kind of you to say, Bryan. Thanks for watching!
As a big Oban fan, I've been a sort of an ambassador for it in my country. my whisky journey has changed forever something like 20+ years ago when i first tried it. until then the whiskies i tried were either sweet or smoky and this one gave me layers i didn't know could exist. a great door for maritime notes, sweet and salty, a whiff of smoke, spice... it just changed the way i looked at whisky back then. 20 years later you can hardly find entry level bottles at my home, but this one always comes back, one of the few chosen ones that i'll always enjoy. after Clynelish 14 for me it's the best entry level whisky.
BTW, the Oban 21 first edition is one of the best bottles you'll ever try, u gurentee that (;
And if you never tried, you should try to get your hands on the old 12. Great piece of craftsmanship.
I'm glad to hear there are still people out there who are still fans of this stuff! Man I'd LOVE to try that Oban 21. I'd never heard of it or seen it before you mentioned it, but I just looked it up. Don't think I'd be able to afford it if I did come across it nowadays, but a man can dream. Cheers!
94.99$ available at fine wines and good spirit state stores in PA. There is no way I am paying that for Oban 14.
Is it a good whisky? Yes. Will I buy it at this price? Never.
I prefer the little bay over this any day and I can get that for 60$ in Jersey. I also have a 2008, cask strength 12 year old. The bottle looks like the Laphroaig 12 cask strengths. That one is probably the best Oban I have had; the list is pretty short though. Also, I got that bottle for 106$ online. That is the only Oban I have purchased in over 5 years now.
Good review Geoff. I really appreciate how honest your reviews are. Even though I belong to the ever growing brigade who would not give their business to Diageo easily. Talisker would be the one Diageo whisky I still go back from time to time. The worst thing is I don't see independent bottlings of these whiskies that often either.
Yeah this is way too pricey in the States. I can buy it here in Taiwan for USD $41, so I have much warmer feelings toward it. I don't think I'd ever pay much more than, say, $70. Pricing aside, I find the malt to be very characterful and more-ish. Thoroughly enjoyable stuff, despite the Diageo-ness. Cheers!
Thanks for the review. I see the slight levels of smoke as bringing a back note of salty sweetness and is a reminder that this is a west coast maritime malt. I totally agree on the presentation - 46% would elevate it considerably.
Totally agree. Cheers Calum.
My first scotch i bought myself was Oban 14 after only have tried Macallan, and I agree its a toasted oatmeal with sea spray with very light hints of fruity pastries.
Oban 14, love the stuff hits the spot! Got a bottle for my birthday 3/4 years ago when it was around £40. Just took a look at prices and this goes for £75 now here in Scotland.
£75? Ffs. Great whisky, but that's too much! 🥃
I love Oban 14! It is the first single malt I fell in love with. Regarding being peated, interestingly, I used to not be able to notice it; however, in recently years, I have been able to pick it up. It's very gentle, sort of in the background; not so much in-your-face. By the way, Costco had been carrying it for about five, six years at around $80. I guess it's both good and bad when Costco sells it. Another great review, G!
Thanks Jack! It's gone up in price over the past year or so. It's now quite overpriced in a lot of markets. Shame. Love the stuff. And yes, the peat is there, but very subtle. Cheers! 🥃
@@Gwhisky , by the way, my wife and I were at Costco (NorCal) about two weeks ago. They no longer carry it.
On a different note, I picked up a bottle of Arran Amarone this past weekend. It's very good; I like it. In that same shop in Berkeley, CA, I saw Omar, both the sherry and the bourbon cask!! OMG! The owner wasn't there; just clerks. None of them knew much about whiskey; so it was pointless to chat with them. One clerk did tell me they sell out Kavalan like toilet paper during the pandemic, even at crazy prices! Olé for Taiwanese whiskey!
I’m in the Bay Area just got it to today again
Nice review Geoff. I have a bottle waiting to be opened (too many open right now 🤣), so this review has bumped it up the line. I also love the coastal west Highland style so will be interested to see how this fares against e.g. Ardnamurchan, which I raced through a bottle of a couple of months ago (so good!).
As an aside, we all hate how Diageo hobble most of their whiskies, but an example of one done right that I loved recently and is ripe for a review (if available to you in Taiwan) is Laga 8. Wonderful, clean example of the Lagavulin house style, 48% ABV, not coloured as far as I can tell (not stated by Diageo of course, but it's the colour of white wine so highly unlikely) and available in the UK for as little as GBP 40 (on discount at a major UK grocery chain). Really surprised me how good it is.
Hi Simon. Glad you're a fan of Ardnamurchan. It's amazing stuff! I prefer them to Oban simply because they haven't been “Diageo'd,” but Oban is still an excellent representation of that style.
Great recommendation with the Laga 8! I've actually got a bottle on the go right now and I plan to review it in the near future. Cheers! 🥃
I don't do business with Diageo any longer, but when I did I drank my share of Oban 14, and to be honest, it was a whisky I wanted to like more than I actually did (kinda like Scapa or Jura), and it's a bit overpriced for such a compromised bottle.
If you're out at a restaurant, and this is your only upgrade over Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, or Glenmorangie, I suppose you can do worse.
89? It's a free world...until 2030 😷👽👾
Keep in mind I'm writing from the perspective of someone buying whisky in Taiwan. I did mention that it's too expensive in most other markets. I paid USD $41 for this.
And yeah, the Oban flavour just works for me. It doesn't with everyone. Cheers buddy!
@@Gwhisky Around $70 USD. Cheers brother!
@@MrChristopherMolloy ….and if you both want a good belly laugh, it’s Au$132 in Oz.
@@howardbecdove9780 That's about $90 USD 😱
@@MrChristopherMolloy yes, but I just noticed it’s on special for Au$105 (about US$70). Ordered a bottle for pick up. 😜
Yep I’m getting my second bottle it’s a very interesting mix I feel too!!! 👍🏻🥃
I just had Oban 14 after i tasted Eagle Rare. Truly a Cameleon whisky. I had a rich butterscotch flavour with white pepper and roasted almonds. Amazing experience.
Nice!
Literally my first ever whisky. My dad used to bring home a bottle when he went on business trips back in the 80'ies and 90'ies, and so at some point as puberty arrived I snuck a taste of what was in the cabinet, and Oban 14 happened to be that. For the same reason I have unreasonable nostalgia towards the distillery and I've consumed a great many 14's, Little Bays and Distillery Editions over the years. I feel quality has been pretty stable over the span I've enjoyed Oban, but recently prices have jumped to unsafe levels. I agree with your review and evaluation of the whisky. Just imagine what it would be like at all green check marks. Tsk tsk tsk... The recent 12 SR is a good indicator, and its a great expression in my book. Sláinte!
Really is a shame it's a Diageo product. Great whisky gets made there. I'm loving the 12 year old SR too. A review is on the way. Cheers!
Love ur videos and when you put your humour into it! 🤣🤣
Great job!
Thanks Andrei! Cheers buddy! 🥃
This was my first scotch I loved. Then the prices climbed up 7-8 years ago and I switched to Balvenie doublewood. That was a long time ago. I used to pick up Oban in europe when I was visiting. I do like the contrasting cork topper color. Makes it look old style.
Yeah it's definitely not worth it in a lot of markets these days. Overpriced. Shame, it's good stuff!
Hi Geoff. Haven’t had Oban 14 for a few years now, probably forget about this one on my journey to be honest. Still, maybe I’ll pick it up sometime. Good honest review, 👍slàinte Geoff.
It's an interesting one to come back to. I ignored it for a very long time. I'm only recently rediscovering the brand and I'm really enjoying it. Cheers David!
I love this stuff. It is a beginners, ladies whiskey (ladies often have a more discerning pallet in my experience) it's subtle, it does not "fight you" . I think a connoisseur can enjoy this too? I wish they would not put color in it. I don't care if looks like water. I don't want color in my salmon to make it look pink or cheese to make it look yellow. Stop doing that Ahhhh! Sell it as "no added color" . Be proud that it's the real thing. We will buy even more. We are not stupid. Well some of us are but even so. Be brave, like a Scotsman or an Irishman, Regards, Patrick.
Another solid review. Oban 14 was my first "wow" whisky a little over 20 years ago and I've only had a few more than a handful of those wow moments since. Definitely need to pick up a bottle soon to do a head to head with the DE. Cheers!
I still get pulled in by this one. Hope it's as good as you remember!
@@Gwhisky Me too!
Oban 14 is a really enjoyable experience.
It’s not mind blowing or really challenging but it is just very enjoyable and pleasant.
Albeit i do not agree with this score for the Oban, I totally understand your point. I feel the same towards my beloved Cragganmore 12 for example, 40%, chill filtered, colored... but damn good.
PS: enjoying your channel a lot, keep up the good work! Ciao!
Thanks for the kind words, Dario. I recently purchased a bottle of the Cragganmore 12 myself. It's pretty good!
For $60 I’d buy at least a couple bottles a year. For $100. Not one.
As far as Cragganmore. I’ve beaten around the bush for years on end and have never tried it. Also it’s not available everywhere. I do know of a store that has a couple bottles from about 5-6 years ago. Priced about $65. Much cheaper than Total wine which has it at $80. I will not buy at that price.
What bottles would you pass over in favor of the Cragganmore? Is it comparable to another brand?
Got this one today on your recommendation, great purchase, really enjoy the side step to a lighter sipper to my Ledaig 10.
Glad you're enjoying it! Good stuff!
I really like it. To me has some notes of pineapple, is very fresh and great for summer.
another great review. I was nodding my head constantly. 100% onboard with your assessment. I gave this a 4.0/5 which I'm guessing is something like a 90 or maybe an 89 on that ridiculous wine scale. I got mine at Costco for $62 (California), well below the threshold for what I'd pay, about $80+. although, at that price, there are a bunch of alternatives...
Yeah it's a good buy for the $60-ish dollar bracket. I've had comments here from people here being asked to pay in the range of $100. Too much...
i am a staff at Oban and what I can confirm is that some of the whisky at Oban distillery are not naturally colored. for the Oban 14 specifically the distillery doesn't actually add artificial colors but when vat a batch they will add two sherry casks to color it redder. some of the other whisky in Oban is dyed with syrup and caramel but I cannot confirm which one it is.
the distillers edition unlike the Oban 14 is not chilled filterd as it will go cloudy in a cold room especially in the winter
Interesting! Very cool to know. Thank you for sharing! 🥃
i just checked the prices in Hungary, EU-east, its very expensive now for its category, about 100 USD-ish for a bottle.
I need your help, I’m a big fan of the Oban 14 it’s one my favorite every day sipping whiskey. I just need your recommendation for another bottle that have the same profile as the Oban 14 but more rich and complex. I need something like the bunahabien 12 with the same sweetness and hint of smoke like the Oban 14. A bottle that combines Oban and Bunna together 😃
As some others have said this is a very mercurial whisky. It gives me a different impression every time I taste it but I agree it is an under-rated and overlooked malt that has a lot in common with the other west-coast malts, although it is the lightest of them.
You'll hear everything from "boring and uninspired" to "stunning and unique" about this stuff. It's all a matter of taste of course. But yes, I agree that this is under-rated. I think it's excellent.
Was able to find a 2017 bottling of this and your review convinced me to finally pop the bottle! I’m really impressed with its balance and character and is definitely pushed up there to one of my top lightly/non peated whiskies on the more affordable end along with the older bottling of Glengoyne 12.
Great! Glad you're enjoying it. A lot of people aren't really into this one, but like you I think it's fantastic! 🥃
I can’t believe you got no smoke in this one. I’ve only had it once at a bar, but I distinctly remember it having a medium smokiness to it.
Diageo core releases are pretty much off my radar now after the price hikes. For the prices they're asking for all of the f&f bottlings, etc., you can get some seriously special stuff elsewhere. The price rise on the Lagavulin 16 is especially egregious when you look at what else is out there in that price range.
Understandable. I've seen what they're asking for this on many of the international online retailers, and it's too much. Luckily it's still affordable in my market, although I suspect it won't stay that way for long.
@@Gwhisky yeah I’m in the UK, so I guess we’ve felt the brunt of the prices rises before everywhere else (in the midst of a rise in inflation and stagnation in wages… perfect timing).
I really enjoy this one. I like the velvety mouthfeel, the creamy toffee and malt-forward flavor notes and while it could be better at 46%, I think it works just fine as is. Totally agree on the "moreish" nature of this whisky. I'd give it an 87. At roughly 50 EUR per bottle, I'm split on buying a bottle, though. I'd likely buy, for instance, a Deanston 12 over this just on presentation alone.
Understandable. I paid roughly €40 for this, and I think it's a great deal for that price. I'm not sure I'd want to go too much higher for it, though, even though I love it. Cheers!
@@Gwhisky 40 would be absolutely reasonable. But Diageo is gonna Diageo...
@@ConcaCon yes 150$ here in canada , not sure if that is worth it
You tasting profile is what I got but only on one bottle, never on any other bottle that I bought including one I just bought, the caramel , waffle is there but the cinnamon, praline , clove is missing. I tasted marzipan. I've been hoping to find one that has those notes but so far the last two bottles have been a miss for me.
Nice review. This is a good whisky. My only problem is the price. Goes for $85 locally. Bunnahabhain 12 goes for $50 and better. Old Pulteney 12 is $40 and is about 90% as good as Oban.
Old Pulteney is one I should come back to soon. As for the Bunna, that's a tough one to beat! Very few whiskies can stand against Bunna 12 for the quality/value ratio.
One of my two favourite whiskeys the other one being Balblair 15
This is one of the best i tasted, anytime i welcome a dram.
OBAN shootout sounds great. I’ve only had the Little Bay so far, and it wasn’t around for very long. haha
Little Bay is good stuff. I'll try to get that shootout video ready within the next couple weeks. Cheers buddy!
Nice review, thanks! I also rate it around an 89. The problem here in the US is it costs around $100/bottle which makes it a tough buy when there are more "interesting" aka "polarizing" or fun options out there for less. It is very well put together and sports great balance and is moorish. It's a pretty scotch as they go and isn't very demanding. The thing about it that comes to mind is it is a bit of a chameleon, if you try to dig into its flavors and complexity it allows it if you take the time, but if you aren't in the mood and just want to casually enjoy it, it lets you do that too without hitting you over the head with stuff to process along the way.
Honestly, $100 is far too much. I'm happy to sing its praises here in Taiwan where it (currently) costs between USD $40-45. I'd say it's easily worth somewhere in the range of $60. But $100 is far too much. Too much naturally presented high-quality whiskies to be had in that range. But yes, it's delicious stuff.
I just love the oban 14 ❤
It's great! 🥃
Thanks Geoff for a good review.
I might try this someday. It's as I mentioned in your Litte Bay review, a bit pricy here in Sweden and finds itself among really tough competition. If it were priced around $40-45 USD, it would already be in my selection. But now, there's quite many that I choose before this.
Looking forward to your review when you go over more Oban expressions 🤗
Thanks for watching! Yeah it's fairly priced here, but I've heard from a lot of people who are paying literally more than double what I pay here. Definitely not worth it!
Thanks for this review, I see Oban 14 at the stores where I shop for Scotch but I haven’t tried it and I wondered if it was worth the $90+ they charge. If you haven’t tried the Johnny Walker Celebratory blend you should. I thought it was really good and I paid around $82 . It is a blend , but it is really good and at 51 proof it has a big flavor. I’m definitely getting another bottle .
I've tried the Walker Celebratory blend. I'll be reviewing it down the line at some point. Decent stuff!
Wasn’t ever crazy about this but now it’s $86 at the “big store” in the “big city” and $100 locally. Just too much for me.
Nah, not worth that. I'm paying USD $41 for this stuff, which I have no gripes with. I certainly wouldn't pay double. Cheers.
@@Gwhisky it’s always mind blowing to hear these prices coming from one of the worst markets in the world for price. I live in Canada near Vancouver, and this bottle is $109 not including taxes. One province over has the lowest liquor taxes in Canada, so prices are good there. Here in BC, you won’t find a single bottle aged more than 12 yrs for under $60, and most are over $100
@@Wielki000 I'm from Montreal, and the prices are abysmal there too. Trust me, I know the pain of being a whisky lover in Canada!
@@Gwhisky yeah the SAQ doesn’t make any easier
I do a road trip go to Alberta twice a year to get the majority of my whisky, Arran 10 yr is $61 CAD with tax in Calgary, it’s not even at BCL in BC right now, it might be in some specialty stores. I assume if you could find it it’d be around $100
Ive had one bottle of Oban 14. I really liked it and wondered why it gets bad pub. At 55 bucks at my local Costco I will get another soon.
A lot of it has to do with price. You and I aren't being overcharged like some markets are. Some people are being asked to pay USD $100 for this stuff, which is ridiculous.
Nice review! Oban14.. was one of my favourites for a while. Elegant whisky, really. Later on I started to be disappointed of the flat mouthfeel. Do you know if there is any unchill-filtered version of it on the EU-market? Curious!
As far as I know there are almost no non-chill filtered Obans available aside from the Cask Strength special releases. The cs 12 is delicious, but it's certainly not "elegant" like the 14. It's a shame we don't have more choices from Oban. Love the distillery character!
The first 14 I ever bought seemed like a whisky that was strained through damp stinky gym socks and I did not buy another. Then years later, I had the 18 year old at a friend's house and liked it. I wondered if I misjudged the 14 or if maybe my palate evolved over time so I tried the 14 again and I like it now. Like Ralfy has said, if you put out a bad batch and it's someone's first taste, you blew it. Without that chance meeting of the 18, I never would have tried the 14 again.
Yeah you definitely get surprised sometimes after you give a whisky some space. Very true about first impressions... super important! 🥃
If you like this, then if you ever get the chance to try the 21 year old cask strength, do it! Obviously not a cheap dram/bottle, but a super engaging and enjoyable malt.
Those are all great whiskies! The 10 year olds are punchy and rugged while the Laga 16 is more calm and refined. Good picks!
I like this one as it was the first recommended to me to get into Scotch. I was always given tastes of super peaty ones that really put me off Scotch for a long time. I am eyeing up a bottle of little bay but I still have a Scotch in the box, unopened in the basement. I guess I'll wait until that one comes up to take spot of a finished bottle.
Little Bay is good stuff, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
How about multitudes of character? Just kidding. Your descriptions are way better than I could ever come up with or even recognize on the pallet or nose. Thanks for the review.
My pleasure. Thanks so much for watching, Steve!
Not sure about your bottle, but mine I just bought, has a very oily feel on the palette that I would normally find in a higher abv. It's a nice dram for sure.
Yes you're right. It's oiler than expected considering the abv/filtration. Love Oban 14! 🥃
It’s actually distilled in one of the smallest distillery’s in Scotland
Yes!
Oban all time classic, just enough oil/sweet/salt, well balance；you should try Oban night watch ,it’s better than oban14
I'll be on the lookout for that one. Thanks Chris!
I would love to see you review wild turkey 101 as it is fantastic and about £30
I'm not a big bourbon guy. I've heard good things about that one though. Something to consider!
Nice review Geoff although unusually I disagree with you on this one. For me it's the definition of an 'ok' whisky, not bad but not particularly interesting either. It was two years since my last bottle though so wonder if there is a lot of batch variation.. keep up the great reviews 👍
Hah, well we're not supposed to agree on everything! As I said in the video, I know plenty of very experienced whisky drinkers who don't get along with this one either. Matter of taste. Cheers Ramiz!
Forget to mention this is now £71 in the UK. A startling price for a bang average malt at best. This price combined with the anaemic Lagavulin 16 at a similar bracket and I think I will be boycotting anything from Diageo.
@@maltontiger3144 Understandable.
I haven't had this one for a while, but I recall enjoying it okay without it doing too much for me. Cheers Geoff.
I think a lot of people share that opinion of this stuff. Matter of taste! Cheers Big Al! 🥃
plz try to review Chivas Regal 13 oloroso sherry cask..although i dont find much review in english in you tube
I've only had a passing acquaintance with Oban, via their Little Bay offering. I didn't really care for it. I think it might have been the 'maritime' aspect which put me off. I thought the seaweed and salt air was a bit much. I've never tried any other offerings, so I suspect that I know too little to pass judgment. I agree that it is an exemplar of the 'coastal' expression. Light and straight-forward is indeed an aspect to be sought out and savored. The thing is, I suspect I'll go with the Dalwhinnie 15 for a more inland highland whisky and leave the maritime hints to the likes of Talisker and Old Pulteney (which will replace the Clynelish 14 presently in the collection). Oban is one of those distillers which I think is displaced in the regional breakdowns. It is categorized as a Highland whisky, as it sits on the mainland of Scotland. But, it is also the gateway to the western islands and the Hebrides, so I tend to think of it as truly 'Island' in nature. It is at the sea, at sea level. The ferries to the isles depart from Oban. Who knows, maybe in good time, I'll come back to try some of the other Oban offerings and find a strain that appeals.
Yeah a lot of people agree with you. I definitely consider it a coastal whisky myself. The same could be said for the likes of Ardnamurchan. 🥃
@@Gwhisky Ah? It made my list as one to trial a bottle.
This one not only divides people, also divides myself.🤣 I had a bottle two years ago, and I remember sometimes it's just ok, but there's moment of "very delicious",too. The DE version review do intrigue me, though.
I used to think it was ok myself. I only recently "rediscovered" this stuff. I bought a bottle and was pleasantly surprised. One of my favourite standard Diageo products! Cheers!
Wait...No smoke? You do not mention peat at all. Their site talks about the smoke. I didn't taste any in the Little Bay. I'm beginning to distrust my receptors.
It's very faint in Oban. Apparently it's 1-3 ppm. Barely detectable. 🥃
Sounds like this would be great from an independent bottler - never seem to see any Oban IBs though sadly.
It's a shame. It's one of my favourite house styles, but I haven't found and Oban IBs myself. They'd certainly be interesting!
On several occasions, I really wanted to like this one, but it just left so much to be desired, particularly in contrast with its potential. I much prefer Clynelish 14, but hey, it's actually never a bad thing if one's palate can enjoy anything, so all the power to you .. maybe you're not the whisky snob you joke to be after all :P Damn, maybe I am! hmm.
Hah nothing to do with snobbery. All just a matter of taste. The whisky scene would be boring if we all agreed about everything! 🥃
@@Gwhisky Truer words have not been spoken!
Ha! This is one whisky that haunts me.
I started off loving it, before I started my more “educated” journey.
Then, when I learnt to distinguish between integrity malts and others, I allowed my prejudice to sway my opinion.
I saw it as, thin, lacking, one dimensional, etc.
Meanwhile, my wife continued to enjoy it, unburdened by any research.
One night, I sipped on her Oban, not knowing the content.
I realised , I still love it, ( a little begrudgingly) despite its short comings.
Hah that's a funny and very honest comment! I don't think everyone would be willing to admit that. A lot of us get so caught up with the integrity thing (myself included) that we can sometimes forget to simply enjoy something. Diageo frustrates me as much as the next guy, but I do love me some Oban! Cheers! 🥃
I do like it. Payed 45€ for it 2 months ago. Can´t find it for under 55€ now...
Yeah it's already too expensive in a lot of markets. It's still reasonably priced in mine, but that won't last.
I do quite like Oban 14 but that's as far as it goes. I get the Diageo thing but it doesn't bother me so much with Talisker 10 which has been a go to whisky for a good many years. Those naughty points are a bit more in evidence with Oban 14 though. I could overlook the negatives but the price prohibits me from doing so. Talisker 10 is regularly reduced to £30 in the U.K but Oban 14 never is. It currently stands at £50+ and the word on the town is that Diageo are going to increase the price. Even at today's price I can run off a list of so many whiskies I would rather buy. I honestly don't think this is worth a dime over £35.
I do have a great memory of Oban 14 though. A few years ago I had a superb meal in a very traditional Italian trattoria in the city of Ravenna. I rinsed it down with Oban 14 and that dram morphed into the entire experience. I totally appreciate your enthusiasm but the price is the real negative. Diageo really don't care about whisky, To them it's a marketable material designed to generate shareholder profit. Some good stuff slips through but they are very old school in their outlook. Excellent review as always. WT
I understand about the price. It's $41/£34 in my market, so I'm not overpaying like most people seem to be. I'd personally be willing to pay a bit more than I do for it, but it seems I just like it more than you. Matter of taste. I've had a lot of feedback from people telling me how prohibitively priced it is, and I can definitely appreciate why it's a no-go for so many people.
A recent visit and tasting session at the Oban Distillery where I pretty much tried everything they currently produce.... was underwhelming!! 😕
The following day a ferry trip across to Mull (Tobermory) I discovered my new favourite dram.... Ledaig 10 🥃👍
Yeah Oban isn't isn't everyone. I've got the majority of their range on the go right now. Some misses in there, but for the most part I'm really enjoying them! Can't argue about Ledaig 10 though. Amazing stuff! 🥃
I have no doubt that one can enjoy Oban 14. So in terms of smell and taste this one seems to be perfectly competent malt. But... its price in Bulgaria have recently went up to at least 50 euros. I cant tollerate such price for 43%, chill filtered and coloured whisky. I can always buy a 200ml bottle of Oban 14 for ~20 euros if I'm so eager to try it though.
Cheers!
It's about €40 here, which I think is fair. I've seen it jump up in price pretty dramatically in other markets over the past few months, so I suspect Taiwan won't be far behind. I guess I'll have to enjoy it while I can, as I don't see myself paying much more for it.
I had a bottle, I’m not replacing it.
I enjoy Oban 14. Nothing complex but very enjoyable albeit overpriced at $90
Lots of complexity.
Agree!
Colored and chill filtered can adversely affect the quality. I personally find it to be meh, which would give creedence to that notion.
No matter what store I went to in whatever city in the past. Oban 14 was always the same flat price $70. A bit overpriced unless you happened to like it. Which I did. One of those with not the highest score but has a high “reachability” for me. Now that everything with a cork is skyrocketing.
Oban is following suit, it retails between 90-$100.
Sorry Diagio. Too much competition. For my Coastal malt hit I’d rather buy an overpriced Kilkerran 12 at $100 (was $60 a year and a half ago). Yes Kilkerran is good but not $100 good. We’ve been and are continuously being conditioned to pay more and more for any bottle now.
So back to Oban. I’d recommend it. I wouldn’t call it boring like Ralfy. It’s solid. Doesn’t slap your tongue around like the Kilkerran 12 for example but is above avg IMO. However above avg is NOT worth $100 for me.
I like it a lot. It doesn't "slap" like you said, but just a really nice character. But yeah, it's not worth $100. I pay less than half of that here in Taiwan. I'd happily pay around $60-ish, maybe even a bit more. But the prices it's going for in the US and the UK these days is just absurd!
@@Gwhisky I agree. I like the stuff but my hand recoils at the price. So you know how much I like it , this is what I put down as my tasting notes:
Soft fruity sweetness and salty . Like a saltwater taffy. Slight Hint of sour in the Background. Small burst of pepper and its on to a dry short finish. Tries to linger but fades rather quickly. Doesn’t leave your mouth feeling dry though. Unique taste . Good after taste but very short. Two or three drops of water thins the mouthfeel and makes the taste and finish a bit sweeter. Overall better without water.
Basically it’s a top tier beginners scotch that isn’t special in any one area but Is fairly unique tasting. I like it but we now unfortunately have to pick and choose very wisely with our wallets. There will be sacrifices made, and bottles left behind.
Sorry Oban.
I would splash a drop of 12 into this and maybe it would remedy those sad pitfalls...
I tried it, and it works!
@@Gwhisky Well, I´m sending my CV to Oban :D
watched this while drinking it and you are funny as fuck i subbed
Currently over 70 uk pounds on master of malt. Dalwhinnie 15 is still south of 40. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark with this one. I wouldn’t pay over 45 so I guess it’s never again.
Yeah I've seen the price on MoM. Waaay too much.
Its worthless at $90 the price sold at DC metro locations. Don’t waste your money. Go for Port Charlotte - 10 , for $25 to $30 less, and discounted too at times, and it stands out superbly w a dash of water (a teaspoon only) at 50% ABV
I agree with you, it's one of those "guilty pleasures", despite not having a "craft" presentation and with only 43% is a whisky that I enjoy a lot, I like the character and profile of Oban, I would like to try other expressions with higher ABV, unfortunately it is very hard to find where I live... Excellent review! Cheers
Thanks Fer Nando. Oban 14 is good stuff! 🥃
Im "struggling" w/ this Oban14. Having it neat the flavors do a full sprint across my taste buds then disappear quicker than a list of affluemt pedophiles. With water it becomes syrupy sweet.
Thanks.
It is basic... Perhaps mediocre is a more accurate description.
It's good. But it's like over 80 US near me. Soooo many Whiskys better at that price. 60 is kind of my cutoff point for it.
Totally agree. It's definitely not worth that. I'm writing from the perspective of someone who pays USD $41 for this bottle, although I doubt the price will stay that low for much longer here...
@@Gwhisky 40 bucks is a fantastic buy. I'd be happy to stock up 2 bottles for 80 bucks.
I'm not to crazy about it, and everyone's palate is different obviously. I'll take Clynelish 14 over this any day.
A lot of people share that opinion. Matter of taste. Cheers! 🥃
The Tabasco bottle
Hah kind of, yeah!
Cost
...I don't have any friends...🤣
Bought a bottle at $65 a few months ago, but now it's $85-$100 almost everywhere which is just bonkers. And while I think it's a VERY good whisky of this style...Clynelish 14 is just better...and now cheaper. I find it hard to justify this or any other ex-bourbon distillate forward bottle not at cask strength when Clynelish is out there for $70. It's a shame too because this a good scotch...just not better than Clynelish and not worth the current asking price.
I personally prefer this to the Clynelish. But I totally agree about the price. It's getting out of hand in a lot of markets. I'm happy to buy it in Taiwan, where it's between USD $40-45. But $100? Nah, WAY too much!
@@Gwhisky Wow $40-$45! Man the Taiwan prices really are incredible. Yeah at that price this is worth it all day long.
Too bad this ‘entry level’ bottle is close to $100 after taxes locally. If this was $60-$65 I would be on board.
It's not worth that. I'm paying about USD $41 for it, so it's "entry-level" priced here. $100 is way too much.
@@Gwhisky $41!!!!! I’d buy a case at that price
interesting flavor, but not my cup of tea! won't buy it again with its higher price now.
Just didn't care much for this dram. For me it was just "meh."
A lot of people share that opinion. A matter of taste!
This guy isn’t a real reviewer. He reads a script as he’s nosing and tasting.
Totally agree. What a phony.
Didnt like it - kind of boring but thats just me.
Matter of taste! Thanks for watching Nathan. 🥃