Today bitter-sherried Oban


October 26, 2022

Little Duos, today bitter-sherried Oban

There's an Oban within this year's Special Releases, which I find pleasing. We could call this wee session a worm tub-special. Did you ever see Oban's?

Oban 2007/2021 'Distiller's Edition' (43%, OB, Montilla fino finish, batch #OD 170.FC)

Oban 2007/2021 'Distiller's Edition' (43%, OB, Montilla fino finish, batch #OD 170.FG)

I've never quite realised that in Montilla-Moriles, they do make fino out of PX grapes. A sudden flash, you know. I've always rather enjoyed Oban's 'DE'. Colour: deep gold. Nose: the fino's even more obvious than before, but we do just love fino while Oban would be the perfect make to get married to these wines. Not too sure who had this idea back then, Dr Jim? Dr Maureen? See, I'm not always complaining about finishings… tobacco, mustard, walnuts, chalk, putty, roasted sesame, old magazines, petrol, marmalade… Mouth: mustard up, with some salt, chutneys, touch of cardboard, capers, green walnuts, drop of seawater… There's something clearly west-coast, even if that would be, partially, the west coast of Spain. Finish: rather long, much drier, on pepper and tobacco. Ashes and a little cardboard, mustard sauce in the end (sauce à la diable). Comments: as I said, I'm fond of this salty and smoky combination. This would be huge at approx. 50% vol.
SGP:362 - 87 points.

Oban 10 yo 'The Celestial Blaze' (57.1%, OB, Special Releases 2022)

Oban 10 yo 'The HIdden Paradise of Black Rock' (57.1%, OB, Special Releases 2022)

This one was finished in amontillado this time. There is some kind of purple rabbit on the label, maybe is this the return of the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog. Not sure I'm fully getting the 'story' that's coming with this year's SRs… Colour: white wine. Nose: there's this fruitier, err, fruitiness that's rather reminding us of the older OBs, the ones that used to come in 'diamond' bottles. Great stuff. Whiffs of soft varnish, sherries, cranberries, melons, the smoky coastalness being toned down here. With water: Oban's smoky mustard and walnuts coming out. Some fig jam too, from the sherry? New tweed jacket. Mouth (neat): powerful, hot, on marzipan and kirschwasser, then wine gums and marshmallows, all that on a creamy texture. With water: some grassier bitterness, walnut skin, peppers, allspice… Finish: long, a little rugous and tough. Closer to the DE now, but I'm finding that DE a little superior. Comments: excellent young Oban, but with a similar combo, I thought the Distiller's Edition had rather more to tell, and that it was a little more complex. Bah, both great drops, while Oban remains rare, as far as numbers of different expressions go.
SGP:362 - 85 points.

Check the index of all Oban we've tasted so far