I agree up to 98%: diageo mass produced, chill filtered, color added. You get better value for money out there. BUT: Part of the truth is, oban has a pretty unique flavour signature you do not find again (really an asset compared to dozens of similar and almost non distinguishable Speyside/Highland Malts). And they improved a lot over the past few years imho 😆

I was sitting in a cigar bar in 1996 and the very knowledgeable bartender noticed my cigar selection and introduced me to Oban 14 that night with my Partagas. Oban 14 was the very first scotch whisky for me that showed me that scotch could be flavorful and flexible. I will ALWAYS have a bottle in my cabinet.

This is one I always have in my collection, even if it is chill filtered and has color added. I still enjoy the Oban.

I quite like the flavor of oban (one of my favorites), enjoy the saltiness of it. You know one thing i really appreciate is your honesty, there's a few comments i reckon are confusing your honesty for harshness, i see it more as disappointment. Even though you've given negatives (of a whisky i love) ill always keep coming back because i know I'll get an honest appraisal. Love the channel, dont ever change mate.

Oban is usually an echo chamber of compliments in my neck of the woods. This was an enjoyable take on the bottle.

As an undying Oban fan, I salute you for this review! I enjoy learning so much about classy malts.

I got some Oban 14 for Christmas, it was good, but didn't knock my socks off either. Now it's gone up to about $80 US here and I can get Springbank 10 or Bunnahabhain 12 for about $54. That's a no-brainer in my book.

Wasn’t initially all that impressed, but the bottle really began to grow on me. Now I love this whiskey and will always have a bottle of Oban 14 in the cabinet.

In my opinion, one of the classiest looking bottles on the market.

Thanks Ralfy for Crediting my malt mention ☺️ ... with a distillery that I’ve visited in 2013 and a bottle I currently have under my bar counter 😃 ..a tad bit harsh on the character of the Oban if I may say so... sensei 🙏🏻

Oban is similar to Cardhu in my opinion. They both could be so much more if they would be bottled at higher strength and better cask selection.

I've only really started drinking whiskey in the last year or so. Ralfy has become (one of) my go to whiskey reviewers of choice. Before I buy a whiskey I'll check to see what he makes of it. However, I'd bought the Oban 14 before discovering Ralfy. If I had, I might not have bought it. Have to say, I really like the Oban 14. I'm glad I stumbled upon it. I guess my takeaway is, just as Ralfy says, that the world of whiskey is subjective. I'll still be going to Ralfy for his opinion. I might just take it more as a very informed opinion that - rather than Gospel as I did previously. 😉

Had it back it the day, though it was good. As I’ve gone on in my whisky journey, it’s just very simple. Got a half bottle of the 14 when I visited Scotland and we were driving past Oban, figured we may as well stop in. Half bottle was a good education, but I know I don’t need a full bottle anytime soon. A bunch better whisky in the coastal highland style owned by Diageo: Clynelish 14! Quite tasty, and just a wildly waxy mouthfeel.

I’ll be honest, I love Oban 14. I love the profile, and were it a bit less overpriced I would buy it more often. Overpriced where I am anyway.

I enjoy drinking this dram while listening to Ralfy tear it a new one.

My first favorite whisky, having been primarily a bourbon fan to that point. Since surpassed by nearby Tobermory. But still smack in the middle of my favorite part of Scotland.

Well I’m sat here with a glass and I like it. I had a glass of Glenfinnich 12 before it and the contrast of the two is great. Each to there own I suppose.

Thanks for saving me the trouble and money Ralfy.

Not having water nearly broke the man 😂

Never had it cause at the same price with Lagavulin 16 in Costco in California, it was not able to attract me but I had heard that it’s just okay. I planned to try it at some point cause every time I go to Costco it’s always available at 60$. Thanks for saving me money on this

LOVE Obama14! Interesting comments. I have a pretty good selection with different tastes for different moods. Oban is definitely one of my umami moods. Bunnahabhain has the comfort and sweetness, Lagavulin the smoke...etc.

The price in the USA has crept up quite a bit!

Ralfy, Distiller's Edition is the gem. 14 is not. And the D.E. is dare I say even better than the 18. Give the Distiller's Edition a review to give the ppl a fair assessment of Oban. Cheers mate. 👊

Very honest assessment of this single malt. I'll buy a bottle now and again when the price is right, but don't typically keep one in the cabinet. My feelings about Oban are influenced by a visit to the town (and subsequently the distillery) a few years ago with my wife...stayed overnight to catch the ferry to the Outer Hebrides the next AM and had a wonderful time there. Highly recommended to anyone who might be considering a visit to that part of Scotland. Beautiful drive up from Glasgow. So, a lot of these happy memories come back as I sip a dram of Oban 14...but I agree that there are many more interesting malts out there for a similar or lesser price.

I think you are to harsh on Oban. It is still a good reliable in a way different single malt I am enjoying for allmost 30 years now and it is consistent. Yes there are quite a lot better delivered SM out there but fair enough Oban is as good as ever for a reasonable price as ever. Only our tastes with a bigger budget have improved.

I can probably listen to you talk about anything… But I’m enjoying this new hobby with whiskey and let me tell you I really enjoyed your teaching about it. Also I have to say… You totally look like the doppelgänger for El Chapo

I'm a little like you here Ralfy, big expectations & came away disappointed. I've now just picked up Oban Little Bay, & it is everything I expected in the 14. Its non-age stated, probably caramel coloured too & haven't left it long enough to see any scotch mist, its just so good as it is. ( with or without water). Certainly nothing noted on the label. **** SPOILER ***** Just came back to edit, & noticed your comments in the 822 Extras. Would love to see you review it.

A famous online retailer has just put this Oban 14yo whisky on a a flash sale....the power of Ralf lol

In my area Oban 14 gets extra points because it's still $60 while other 14 year old malts are now pushing $80. For example I'd rather have it over a Clynelish 14.

I really enjoy the Oban Little Bay. One of my favorites.

This review is great and hit home hugely! Reason is is that this is my most favorite dram along with Glenlivet 18 when it was 43percent. All I've ever gone on was initial flavor and that was it for most part (a year ago I did search for notes, as well as an amateur could). Even though this didn't get the best of reviews here, I will get Oban 14 again and rediscover what I really liked about it a year ago, and will try to find the not so preferred traits as well. Great review and thanks for the education, as I'm very sure it will help me discover what I wouldn't have noticed myself along this single malt journey!

we look at the process and the end result, but it all starts with the quality of the initial ingredients. balcones blue corn whisky is superb. i am saving up for their single malt. its so dark int he bottle! keep it up, ralfy. youre the best.

In Vancouver Canada the Oban-14 is priced at $129.99 and Glen Garioch -12 is $61.99 makes Oban-14 look very expensive to me. Glenmorangie-14 Quinta Ruban is $88.99.

Jimmy Red Corn bourbon made in South Carolina is another. All types of corn in North America.

Well this has put me right off it, I had my eyes on it but think I'll try the Caol Ila or the Blair Athol instead.

The Chill filter and coloring bothers me, but man Oban 18 is easily one of my favorites. Little bay is great and 14 is a good daily. Not bad for a company of only like 7 people.

I had Oban last night for my night cap. Great review! Cheers!

Can someone please tell me what happened to Lagavulin 16!? I used to love it but my last couple of bottles have been terrible.

I really appreciate your honesty .

Your ears must have been burning, Ralfy. I was just thinking about this malt!

I visited Oban Distillery a couple of years ago. I hadnt had a dram of Oban for a long time. It was my first Distillery visit and I did enjoy it. The Whisky itself sadly, I discovered was a paler experience than the bottles I purchased back end of the eighties early nineties. It was still ok, but i was dissapointed. Instead of buying a bottle there as I had planned, I went to a local whisky shop and bought a bottle of Springbank 10 for less money after Ralfy banging on about it.I eventually took the hint and Im glad I did! Its a shame. Really perhaps in the future Oban might take the hint up their game!

Never have had Oban. It's readily available whisky where I live, can be found in most of the supermarkets. This kept me from buying it as I have focused on acquiring malts which have not been chill-filtered or colored. Oban 14 sells for about 45 EURO which is virtually the same price as Bunnahabhain 12, Deanston 12, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 12 or 14, Glengoyne 12, Edradour Caledonia, Talisker Distillers Edition. Benromach 10, Glenallachie 12 and Glendronach 12 I can buy for 3/4 the price of Oban 14. I just cant justify buying Oban 14 instead of some of those malts. Maybe when and if I feel experienced and bored enough I'll get a bottle just to check what it's all about.

Oban was one of the first scotches I had, many years ago, and began my interest in whiskey. It was $50ish USD back then, now over $100 and close to not worth that price. I came back to it after tasting 100+ scotches over the years and was very disappointed, but it will always have a place in my romantic heart - but not on my shelf.

I hope it’s not too bad. My wife just picked up a bottle from Heathrow for £21.72 😊

Ralfy, I immensely enjoy the channel! Thank you! May I ask you to reconsider your newest approach to scoring the whiskey? IN MY OPINION, it does not make sense to subtract points for non-craft presentation. Because lower alcohol content, chill filtering and caramel color make whiskey taste worse that should already be reflected in the malt mark based on taste and smell. Taking off extra points for essentially the same faults is not needed. Double jeopardy should apply in this case. Also, most of these whiskey don't taste that great anyway so knocking off extra points make for really pitiful malt marks. Even these malts deserve better! That is unless you are on the some sort of a crusade to... Nah, this statement is from a realm of conspiracy theories, Ralfy has no hidden agenda! In my opinion, of course! 😉

Almost every spring I buy the 20cl bottle, just to see if it’s still good enough. Well this year I’ll skip it then :s

I found Oban a little bizarre. It has prominent apricot character followed by what I can only describe as Italian cheese like romano; A clash of flavors that didn't work for me. Johnnie Walker Green shares this character but to a lesser degree.

Didn't knock my socks off either Ralfy - but a passable dram I thought. I'm just about to open my "Lockdown Bottle" of Springbank 10... now THAT I am looking forward to :) I might have to be just a wee bit generous with the measure..

This is the whisky that started my serious journey and very much enjoyed it, but going back to it I found the e150 just smashes this whisky. Actually sourcing decent hogheads, other then kick down casks would help. Cheers and stay safe

Sad that Diageo has some amazing whiskies but treats them so badly.

There is a distillers edition

I cant believe that thi sells for £77 now. I last bought this on March 03, 2021 for £44 and I was still saddened by how it had diminished. Oban was probably the one whisky that got me startet on my real malt journey. Just read an article on bbc news that two Oban pubs are going to have to stop stocking it as it is too expensive. Utter madness!

Hey Ralphy- about 10-15 years ago I went to the Jacobite up near Ben Nevis and it so happened to be it’s 100th anniversary of the railway there, and ended up winning a bottle of whisky on the train as we were doing a bingo or something- and not sure if it’s now of worth or worth keeping in the collection (rum drinker, unsure on whisky) it’s a 100th anniversary commemorative edition of ‘dew of Ben Nevis’ - I know you like your obscure bottlings- so wondering if you’ve heard of it?

Hi Ralphy, greeting from Romania! I’m a big fan of you, got your books too. Can you please make a review for Lagavulin 10 YO? I love this stuff & your videos. Thank you for all the knowledge and the time you spent on us for free! Cheers mate! ❤

Ralfy, how about some of the age statement Tyrconnel's, like the 15 year old Madeira cask and the 16 year old single malt? Would appreciate your perspective.

Agree with your points after the arrival Ralphy. Kinda feel it could and should be better 👍🏻

The ginger is quite forward in the oban. I was waiting for you to say it.

I love Blair Athol 12 and in my opinion a far far far better whiskey than anything Oban produces, in fact it’s one of my favourites. I bought the Oban distillers edition and although very nice I thinks it’s trying too hard and still not a patch on the Blair Athol. I thinking finishing the Oban in a sherry cask took away the character of what the whisky could be, I tried the 11 year old stuff straight from the cask on a tour and thought that was quite interesting. The little bay is certainly the best they produce for the price point.

At $NZ98, it is too expensive, here at least. Glenmorangie 10yr is about $25 less expensive.

Can you explain what happens to a scotch if left in the glass, difference in taste, drinkable for how long etc. Thanks Ralfy.

Here in upstate NY Oban is $141 for 750ml, Clynelish is $58, so Oban is not a cheap whisky here

After tasting, over and over again, all 6 of the 12-14 yo single malt scotches I bought over the holidays, think I've got to fork out the bucks and try something less sugary.

The problem with Oban 14 for me is that it sits in the same price range as the Clynelish 14. I have enjoyed a drop of Oban in the past but I can't walk past Clynelish to buy it. They both retail for around the £45 - £50 mark at Fenwick's in Newcastle which isn't bad.

Hi Ralfy. I have become quite a fan of yours. I am in Texas. If it helps any, over 40% of my DNA is from Scotland, haha. You mentioned, in this video, that this Scotch did not "knock your socks off." This gave me an idea for what might be an interesting video. How about a video on Scotches that did "knock your socks off," for say, less than 100 pounds? Thanks!

Thank you, Ralfy!

Speaking of not knocking your socks off, the first time I tried this years ago, I thought it tasted like stinky damp gym socks and I didn't buy another for a very long time. Then one night at a friend's house, he had the 18 year old and I thought that was quite decent. It made me wonder if my tastes had changed over the years and I gave the 14 year old another try. This time it was palatable. So either my neophyte taste buds just weren't ready for that or my tastes definitely did change over the years.

The price of this has gone barmy recently. It’s a good easy sipper with minimal complexity that doesn’t require much deep thought, just simple enjoyment, but not for over £40 and certainly not the prices being asked for it now by most major retailers. I have 1 bottle of Distillers Edition in the stash, though sadly I can’t see Oban being restocked until Diageo come back down to reality with pricing. Same goes for Lagavulin 16 and Talisker 18, mind boggling prices now. The bare minimum needed is 46% UCF to vaguely justify prices now, I know Diageo see comments like these and it’s incredible they don’t act upon them, but hey their market is guzzlers and people buying brands, not products.

What happened to 822 Extras?

In Australia this is $25.00 more than the Clynelish 14. I cannot understand that!

Hello Ralfy, i'm with you. This dram has a taste of Obstler (fruit brandy)... it is the character of the most german single malts and we don't really like it... slàinte , or should i say prost 🥃

Hi I like. I even keep one bottle of Oban always.. It's a good one..

Thanks for sharing Ralfy🙏

This will always be one of my most favorite one, coz I had one of my best moments in live, covered with Oban14. And all that night might saved my life in the way I do to the day. Hail to Oban (the Ceasar way, not that Austrian dude btw..)

Cheers Ralfy! The good pope in Rome just received a bottle of Oban 14 from some visiting scottish priests. "This is the real holy water." -Pope Francis.

80/100 is nothing short of a total desaster. I remember thoroughly enjoying the first bottle of Oban i had like 8 years ago and a second one years later ,that was not so exciting ,but still decent. Apart from that, Oban sure isn't some kind of 15 bucks bottom shelf rubbish whisky, so I'm i bit suprised about this harsh rating, to be honest.

Ralfy, big fan in the whisky desert that is south Mississippi. I’m a big fan of the age statement. I received a bottle of oban 14 for my birthday today. I’ve looked the bottle and the cardboard tube over and all I see is the number 14. I do not see 14 years old or aged 14 years. Can I really interpret 14 on the background of the label as this whisky is 14 years old?

Did a tour of Oban distillery last year. The 14 year old was pretty disappointing but the 9 year old straight from the cask was excellent in comparison. Wouldn’t buy a full sized 14 year old bottle.

Ralfy, love your content and been a Malt mate since around 2014. It's such a shame you do not review whisky with a malt mark below 80. Over the years, you have reviewed a majority of single malts on the shelves at my local whisky shop and I find it hard to believe that most of them are 80+! Give us maltsters the benefit of your opinion on subpar whisky too. (maybe my local shop is great amazing :P)

Ralfy nice to see you mention Texas Whiskey! Though I am quite partial to Oban, I can appreciate you sentiments. Would you ever review a Texas whiskey? The good ones seem to meet all of your requirements. Cant get any more honest about age when they say, "Aged at least 36 months"

Love this whisky Ralphy....I'm fairly new to whisky...at 51 years old I only started enjoying a malt 5 years ago!....Have now got a fair collection of 47 bottles at home of various brands...peaty ones are nae for me but am loving Speyside..(I'm and Aberdonoian after all)...My favourite so far is Glenfiddich 12 and 2nd to that is the Oban 14....probably cos my local pub does it for 3.60 (British quids)....anyway ...love your channel and enjoy all of the content. Keep up the good work ;o)....Slàinte mhath

£50 RRP for this now. same price as lagavulin 16. not enough going on for that money - 14 years be damned.

I love OBAN 14.

"Maltocracy", I like that! 😀

Yeah Oban annoys me. It was like $45 a number of years back then within a year and a half period the price shot up to like $70+ for no good reason. I tolerated it at $45 but its a dog at $70. 100's of better options at $70.

I love this one, would rate it higher.

Hi Ralfy can you do a review of Aerolite Lyndsay 10 great stuff i think just wondering What would be your opinion malt m8 :)

Just enjoy the whisky neat then. No water needed.

Ralfy, I don't think you have ever reviewed a Blair Atholl whisky.

Hi Ralfy, you've said in this review you don't pick only ones you like to review. I've never see you review a Singleton at all in 10 years! Are they terrible or have they personally offended you? I'm really curious what they taste like dispite the added colouring.

Pongy melon....you are not selling it to me Ralfy!😖🍉🍉🍉😝

No water? Ralfy ,look after yourself for heavens sake! We can't have you dehydrating. The lockdown is hitting hard.

Ok who is going to pay $554 Canadian for a bottle of Oban 21 Cask Strength? I just saw this at my local and usually decently priced liquor store and this showed up as a new offering. ????????

@12:22 - Who are you calling an Athol, Ralf? You don't even know me! ;-)

If you had $400 to spend what single malt would it be?

Sweet smile at starting is energetic.,,

That’s an exceptionally high mark for what I considered to be paint stripper. I’m not good at describing why it’s bad but I found it very offensive.

I'm looking for a whisky with a flavour profile similar to Oban. I want something that isn't sweet or sherried, with maritime minerals and smoke but not peat smoke. Lots of oak but not vanilla. Can you suggest something?

Ralfy would this be good for a newbie single malt drinker ?? I’m past blends ..what do you suggest ??

Never loved it ...although a far better whisky feel the same about Balvenie 12 its ok...and expensive...The 14 is rather good though...

i dont like diageo bottlings bud this one you where slighty off to low of malt mark this bottle deserves atleast 83 or even 84 points of the 100 points totally . this is the best diageo bottle out there yes it have his small faults ofcourse bud its oban 14 come on bro it deserves atleast 83 points 😥😥😥😥😥😥😥