Oban 14-year is produced in a small town called Oban in Argyll. It’s located just inside the shores of Lorn near a span of cliffs and natural caves that are said to be the sheltering place of the original settlers of the mainland around 5,000 B.C. The small town of Oban actually grew up around the distillery after its construction in 1794. The distillery only has two pot stills, making it one of Scotland’s smallest. In production since 1988, the 14-year single malt Scotch is the distillery’s flagship product and is one of only two remaining Western Highland malts. I appreciate their focus, and I would actually consider moving to the town just to be closer to the magical place where this liquor is born and aged.
Oban 14-year comes in a very attractive case and bottle. The cylindrical case depicts the rocky cliffs that are the backdrop to the town of Oban, and the bottle exudes a simple, yet regal look. The Scotch itself is of a rich golden color that lightens to a near-yellow hue when poured on the rocks. Its aroma is rather light and extremely pleasant. Oban 14-year smells like a fine oak barrel that has been dipped in the sweetest of sweet milk chocolate and then garnished with fresh fruit. The smell alone is enough to nearly bring tears of joy to my eyes.
Oban is silky-smooth to sip. This malt goes down extremely smooth and gives you a wonderful warming sensation back up your esophagus and into your mouth. The taste is soft and somewhat fruity, and the finish leaves you with a peaty taste in your mouth after the warming sensation subsides. That peaty aftertaste leaves you very satisfied and at ease. The taste of the malt is not extremely complex, which may disappoint those Scotch drinkers that enjoy dissecting complex infusions while sipping, but the experience of drinking Oban is truly remarkable. I have never enjoyed a Scotch quite as much as Oban 14-year. The exquisite smoothness and impressive warming sensation of this Scotch make it top-notch in my book. I would drink a glass of this stuff every night for dessert if my wallet would allow it.
At 86-proof, you would expect Oban to give you a nice buzz, but it really exceeds those expectations. Don’t let the smoothness fool you. After a few glasses, I was swaying to my own rhythm in 
my chair and enjoying the hell out of watching Megan Fox show her goods in Transformers. I suppose the movie was pretty good, but my focus was too much on her to really give an honest and fair review (this is a liquor site anyway, not a movie site). I’m sure Megan, that’s what I call her, would really appreciate my taste in liquor and movies. I’m sure we would get along very well and be the best couple on earth. I love her, and that’s all that really matters. Now, back to business. The Oban buzz was a very light one. I wasn’t really slurring words or anything, but I felt really in-tune with my surroundings and at peace with everything. It was a very relaxing experience, but I was very much ready to take it to the streets and local bars.
Another bright spot to Oban 14-year is the fact that it really left me with no hangover. I had a case of dry-mouth in the morning, but after drinking a couple glasses of water, I felt like a million bucks. I might have poured another glass of Oban, but I wanted to save it for a special occassion…such as writing this review.
The only drawback to Oban 14-year is the price. At around $77, it will hurt your wallet pretty badly. However, when you consider that the cramped nature of the area around the distillery severely limits production, the price doesn’t seem too steep. I have consumed Scotches that cost four times the price of Oban that really don’t hold a candle to its unique sipping experience. It’s worth noting that the bottle we used in the review process was an especially tasty bottle. I have purchased a handful of bottles of Oban 14-year in the past, but none of them have tasted quite like this bottle. They all have been worth the price of admission, but this bottle is something special. That’s the nature of single-barrel Scotches; every bottle tastes different. All things considered, Oban 14-year is one of the single best liquors that has ever found its way into my welcoming belly. Even if you are not much of a Scotch drinker, do yourself a favor, and pick up a bottle of Oban 14-year for a special occasion. Maybe I’ll send Megan a bottle; she just may love me for it.
Sipability – 9.5
Mixability – N/A
Drunkability – 8.5
Hangover-ability – 9.0
Bang for the Buck – 7.0
Overall - 9.0 
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Comments
Oban 14 year old has been my absolute favorite single malt for many years now. Just a couple of weeks ago, I showed up at the distillery on a visit to Scotland from Canada. The last tour had already gone through, and they were closing. When I explained that I had arrived from away and that just being there was like a religious experience for me, they so very kindly gave me a private tour. I saw the stills and the new batch of mash that was just started a few days prior. Then back in the front area, they gave me a couple of drams of this fine, fine drink. It was the best day of my life!!!!!
Wow. I am totally jealous of you. Shouldn’t we be the ones getting the private tours? When is it going to be our time?! Anyway, I’m glad you like Oban 14-year. It has been one of my favorites for quite some time. I should reitorate that the bottle we tested and reviewed was a particularly awesome bottle though.
Oban 14 close to being the top selling single malt in the US and I think that you’ve done a pretty good job of describing why. Btw, it is produced in a batch style, not single barrel. If you’re looking for something that’s somewhat similar, but a lot cheaper, I highly recommend Glen Garioch 8. Around where I live, in MA, it usually goes for less than 25$. It’s a great whisky, one favourites. Like Oban it has a smooth chocolate fruit taste and a hint of smoke.
Good article – plenty of food for thought.
$77? i live in UT where they have the most strict laws on alcohol and it was $55 per 750ml. but I agree, this is top notch scotch.
I completely agree with your review. While Oban is not the most complex single malt available, this is not to be regarded as a flaw. It is flawless. Smooth, warming with citrus, lemon and orange rind on the palate. And that finish is oh so so long!
Love Oban! Maybe perhaps not as much as Laphroaig or Glenmorangie 18 year Extra Rare, but definitely up there! My boss at my last job used to buy me a bottle of this every year for Xmas. The only thing I miss about that job. Ha!
it is very nice
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