Oban 14 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml

Oban 14 Year is the flagship core range single malt from the Oban Distillery, founded in 1794 by brothers John and Hugh Stevenson and one of Scotland's oldest and smallest working distilleries. The town of Oban itself literally grew up around the distillery, hemming it in on all sides and limiting its annual production to a tiny fraction of what most modern distilleries produce, with the entire output destined for single malt bottling rather than blending. Designated as one of Diageo's original "Classic Malts of Scotland" alongside Talisker, Lagavulin, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, and Glenkinchie when the collection was launched in 1989, Oban 14 Year represents the West Highland regional style, sitting geographically and stylistically at the boundary between the Highlands proper and the Western Isles. The whisky is distilled in some of the smallest lamp glass shaped copper pot stills in all of Scotland, then slowly condensed in traditional outdoor wooden worm tubs, exposed to the salted sea air that wraps around Oban Bay, imparting a distinctive maritime character that bridges Highland fruit and Island brine. Bottled at 43% ABV in 750ml with the iconic cream and blue presentation tube featuring an evocative line drawing of sea birds on craggy cliffs, this is one of the most consistently celebrated mid range single malts in the entire Scotch category. Gold Medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Double Gold at the 2022 competition.

ABV / Proof

Tasting Notes

Color: Rich amber to bright copper gold.

Nose: Immediate and confident, with warming sweet toffee, sticky toffee pudding, oily waxy nuttiness, ripe orchard fruits, almondy fruit cake, Christmas pudding, malty cereal, aromatic orange, caramelized pineapple, plantain, lychee, brine, smoke, menthol, pine resin, and dusty cinnamon nutmeg.

Palate: Full, rich, and almost oily, with dense coating spice, buttercream frosting, tinned fruit cocktail, pineapple, orange, lychee, dried figs, honey sweet spices, almond, sherry like marzipan, crunchy sea salt, apricot, peach, stem ginger, subtle wildflowers, and mineral white stone smooth pebble notes.

Finish: Long, syrupy at first then drying, with elegant coating dark chocolate tannins, pine fresh menthol, apple cider with lemon, brioche with lemon curd, late cedary smoke, fruit bread chewiness, orange zest, and clove, finishing minty with crisp green apple.

FAQ

What is the "Classic Malts of Scotland" series? The Classic Malts of Scotland is a curated selection of six single malt whiskies launched in 1989 by Diageo's predecessor United Distillers to represent the major regional styles of Scotland: Talisker (Islands), Lagavulin (Islay), Cragganmore (Speyside), Dalwhinnie (Highland), Glenkinchie (Lowland), and Oban (Western Highland). The series introduced millions of drinkers to single malt scotch in the 1990s and remains one of the most important brand launches in modern scotch history.

What makes Oban Distillery unique? Founded in 1794 by John and Hugh Stevenson, Oban Distillery is one of Scotland's oldest and second smallest working distilleries (after only Edradour). The town of Oban literally grew up around the distillery after it was built, hemming it in on all sides with no room for expansion. Annual production is limited to roughly 650,000 liters, with all of it destined for single malt bottling rather than blending. The lamp glass shaped copper pot stills are among Scotland's smallest, and the outdoor wooden worm tub condensation exposes the spirit to salted sea air that defines the distillery's signature West Highland coastal character.

What is the West Highland style? West Highland malt sits geographically and stylistically at the boundary between the Highland mainland and the Western Isles. Oban 14 Year is the textbook example, marrying the richer fruit and malt sweetness of Highland whisky with the brine, gentle smoke, and maritime salinity more typical of the Islands. The result is one of the most balanced regional styles in scotch, with broad appeal to both Highland and Island fans.

How should I drink Oban 14? Best served neat in a tumbler or Glencai