Review #52 - Oban Distiller's Edition 2021
Distiller's Edition Mini-Series: Part 1 of 3
This mini-series will focus on some annual releases by Scotch distilleries - their 'distiller's editions.' In fact, all three that we will review are brands owned by Diageo, which has made a habit of these special releases on an annual basis with many of its distilleries - for better, or for worse. They vary in style, but often there are more uncommon casks used in finishing, and sometimes, these bottles come in at higher strength, too.
This week, it's Oban, specifically the Distiller's Edition from 2021. We generally like the whisky we've tasted from Oban, with a few exceptions, and would consider ourselves fans of the distillery if the pricing and presentation were a bit more reasonable. The delicate, fruity, sometimes flowery distillate is something to be enjoyed if the aging was done in the right sort of oak, and with the addition of Fino sherry casks in this release, we could be onto something special.
Oban Distiller's Edition 2021
Scotland/Highlands - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 125 (2023)
Age Statement: 13-14 Years
Strength: 43% ABV
Cask Makeup: Double maturation, finished in Montilla Fino sherry casks
Details: Distilled in 2007, bottled in 2021
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 70% fill level at of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Quite rich despite the bottling strength, plenty of oak and some sherry as well. There's leather, a bit of wood smoke to go along with it, and some red and orange fruit; then we get more ex-bourbon notes of vanilla bean and light caramel. We find overripe strawberries, sweet red apples, and later on as it has opened up, a bit of agave.
Palate: The mouthfeel is a medium thickness, and again it's rich in flavor like the nose. Some dry wood tannins to start, but soon we're into fruit and savory sherry tones, with a hint of sauce in there, too. There is spice, almost like a jalapeno or some cayenne, even smoke paprika; those wood notes from the beginning increase over time, and give a nice warming feeling.
Finish: Medium length finish, and still a bit warming and cozy. The oak wood hangs around but the bitterness has subsided, it's softer all around; later, there is red fruit again, and it's nicely balanced between spiced and sweet.
Final Note: This is pretty nice to sip on, the richness is exceptional for the bottling strength of 43% ABV - it would be great to see what a cask strength version of this could bring. In our book, this is a little bit better than the standard 14 year, though it comes with quite a price premium as well (in addition to being harder to find). Because of that, value suffers a bit, so if you're on a more limited budget, the usual 14 year (or another brand entirely) might be the way to go - if you want to splurge a little bit, this could be worth it once in a while.
Our Average Rating: 8.0 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.24
