While Oban has been distilling for over two hundred years, their geographic restraints have kept them from growing into a truly giant place of production. For many years, their single malts were relegated to the 14 Year and Distillers Edition. Therefore it was a welcome surprise when they introduced a new No Age Statement offering to their lineup in 2015, the Oban Little Bay. The Scottish Gaelic name for the town, An t-Òban, means “little bay”. The single malt is blended in 200 liter ex-bourbon barrels, the smallest barrels available at the distillery. This was at one point their travel retail exclusive.
Distillery: Oban
Region: Highland
Age: NAS
Strength: 43%
Price: $38.98
Location: Oban
Maturation: Refill American oak hogsheads and European oak Sherry cask
Nose: Brine, pine, oak, maple syrup
Palate: Mint, iodine, spice, floral
Finish: Mint, spice, iodine
Comments:
Adam – I found the Oban Little Bay a scotch that is really susceptible to the seasons. First tried in the summer months, the palate felt subdued and too muted to be of much interest. More recently in colder climes, though, and those subtle flavors become more pronounced and a delightful warmth helps make this delightful. You could be forgiven for thinking this an island malt, as the influence of brine is present but mixed with a light floral and vegetable sense among a well integrated nose and palate. There’s a nice little zip at the end with the spice I like. The Little Bay doesn’t shock and awe you or even hit all the pleasure sensors that the Distillers Edition consistently does, yet at the lower price point this offering eventually settled into, it provides a delicious, flavorful every day sipper.
Jenny – For some reason the nose just brings me to the seaside. It’s sunny and I’m watching the waves roll in.
Meghan – Oban managed to pull off some challenging scents and flavors with this one. The pine on the nose is refreshing and clean but amazingly avoids smelling like Pine-Sol, as many other piney whiskies do. There is also a hint of menthol on the nose that could easily be unpleasant or overpowering but instead, is beautifully balanced with the sea salt and sweetness. There is a minty peppery feeling on the palate that isn’t a flavor normally found in Oban but it adds a nice crispness. There is very little finish on this whisky, which makes you think it could be a summer whisky but it really needs the crisp notes of fall to open it up. The feeling of whisky dancing across your tongue can feel like a bright and entertaining tarantella of flavors or it can just feel like burning. The Little Bay pulls of the the former with all the grace and skill of an experienced dancer performing in an unexpected style- it isn’t what you are used to or what you expected but it is a wonderful surprise. It leaves you a little confused, a bit wistful for the well known, but it also leaves you charmed and curious to experience more.
This scotch has a tail.
Michael – Kind of a subtle scotch, a lot of subtle flavors. It does bet on its own than in a crowd. I think of it as a wallflower. It has different qualities but they can get lost if you’ve had a lot of other whiskies. A great scotch to start with but a lot of layers to get missed if you’re not paying attention.
Mary-Fred – I get saltwater toffee. It’s just a lovely scotch. It makes me feel like a roast chicken dinner and brownies. There’s a richness to it, there’s an absolute comfort food aspect to it.
Caitlin – It’s comfortable, like a sweater or socks. You reach for it and you’re comfy. It’s not too exciting or dramatic but you’re glad it’s around.
Ben – I really like this one. Of course, Oban was my friend in the first place. I honestly prefer the 14 year’s maturity a little bit more. Brine on the nose I don’t want to like but I do. It’s actually very similar to its 14 year old sibling. One of the differences I notice is that fright at the end of getting the flavor. There’s a tang at the end of the flavor experience hanging out on the tip of your tongue. It’s nice and part of the story, like when you grow up and you have things that you don’t need. It’s like having a tail in utero that a human being doesn’t need. This scotch has a tail.
