Oban isn’t exactly a new name among Scotch fans, even for drinkers in America, and to call it esoteric or niche would also be a bit of an overstatement. Indeed, the Diageo-owned distillery—one of Scotland’s smallest—has long produced a steady line of age and (since 2014) non-age stated whiskies, with its 14 year-old single malt as a hallmark expression. Its whiskies are often noted for a trademark salinity, with the distillery itself is nestled just a stone’s throw from Oban Bay.
While Oban is a consistent producer, the distillery isn’t the most prolific when it comes to specialty releases outside its core range. A (generally) annual Distiller’s Edition and appearances in the Diageo Special Releases lineup are the somewhat rare exceptions, bottlings in which Oban sometimes exhibits its distillate at varying proof points and with secondary cask maturation.
But Oban’s latest release falls outside both those ranges, giving the distillery’s fans an additional chance to try something new. Oban 15 Cask Strength Sherry Cask Finish is a new, limited-edition Highland single malt that spends the majority of its life across a combination of European oak butts and American oak hogsheads. The liquid then received a lengthy (four-plus year) finish in Oloroso and Palo Cortado Sherry casks before being bottled at a cask-strength 55.3% ABV.
The result is a bottling the manufacturer promotes as a “smooth, full-bodied whisky, rich with citrus notes and the distinctive saltiness” common to Oban single malts.
After tasting this new, limited release, I’m in agreement on most of those notes, though I wonder if calling it “smooth” might actually be a slight disservice to the whisky itself. I found the dram decadent, sweet, and robust on the palate, with an exceptionally long finish buoyed by a thicker-than-expected mouth feel.
Whether it’s from the higher proof, cask finish, or combination thereof, this Oban 15 feels like the distillery’s signature profile dialed way up and lengthened for a more encapsulating palate experience. Burnt citrus is especially prominent throughout, which pairs well with underlying salinity across both the middle and back palates.
Oban 15 Cask Strength Sherry Cask Finish is available both online and in markets across the United States, with a suggested retail price of $150 for a 750 milliliter bottle. Fingers crossed Oban roles out more higher-proof offerings in the foreseeable future.