🥃🥃 Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Rich polished gold with deep amber and copper highlights, displaying excellent concentration after 21 years in European oak.
Aroma:
Complex and distinctly coastal, opening with orange peel, sea breeze, honey, and ripe orchard fruit. Pineapple and other tropical fruits develop alongside toffee, malt, subtle floral notes, pepper, and mature oak. Additional time in the glass reveals darker chocolate and spice nuances.
Palate:
Powerful, oily, and impressively layered:
Blood orange and candied citrus provide a vibrant opening
Honey introduces rich natural sweetness
Pineapple and tropical fruit add brightness and depth
Stewed apple contributes mature orchard-fruit character
Toffee and caramel create a richer confectionary layer
Cinnamon and black pepper provide substantial warming spice
Malted barley remains present beneath the extended maturation
A subtle coastal salinity reinforces Oban's West Highland personality
Dark chocolate adds depth against the sweeter fruit
European oak contributes structure and mature tannin
115.8 Proof provides exceptional concentration and mouth-coating texture
A few drops of water reveal additional honey, orange, fruit, and softer spice
Finish:
Long, warming, and complex, with lingering orange, honey, cocoa, ginger, pepper, mature oak, and subtle coastal salinity. Sweet fruit gradually gives way to darker chocolate, spice, and drying oak, leaving a powerful yet refined conclusion.
With its 21-year age statement, 1996 vintage, refill European oak maturation, 115.8 Proof natural cask-strength presentation, and inclusion in the 2018 Diageo Special Releases, Oban 21 Year Old represents an exceptionally rare expression of this historic West Highland distillery. Its combination of mature fruit, maritime character, European oak, and full-strength intensity makes it a compelling bottle for both dedicated Oban enthusiasts and collectors of rare, discontinued Scotch whisky.
Description
Oban 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750mL) — 2018 Special Release | 21-Year Cask Strength West Highland Single Malt
Experience an exceptionally rare, mature expression from one of Scotland's smallest and most distinctive distilleries with Oban 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Released as part of the prestigious Diageo Special Releases 2018 Collection, this limited-edition whisky was distilled in 1996, matured for 21 years, and bottled at an impressive natural cask strength of 57.9% ABV (115.8 Proof).
Unlike Oban's familiar core expressions, this extraordinary 21 Year Old was matured in refill European oak butts, allowing more than two decades of interaction between spirit and wood while preserving the distillery's unmistakable maritime personality. The result combines ripe fruit, honeyed malt, citrus, spice, dark chocolate, mature oak, and coastal salinity in an unusually powerful presentation of Oban.
Oban occupies a unique position on Scotland's west coast, where Highland and maritime influences meet. The distillery's limited production and compact size mean that older official bottlings are relatively uncommon, making this 21-year-old cask-strength release particularly compelling for serious Scotch enthusiasts and collectors.
🥃 Product Details
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Producer: Oban
Distillery: Oban Distillery
Series: Diageo Special Releases 2018
Region: West Highlands, Scotland
Bottle Size: 750mL
Age: 21 Years
Vintage / Distillation Year: 1996
Bottling Year: 2018
Maturation: Refill European Oak Butts
ABV: 57.9%
Proof: 115.8 Proof
Bottling: Natural Cask Strength
Release: Limited Edition
Availability: Limited Quantities Worldwide
Character: Orange, Tropical Fruit, Honey, Toffee, Baking Spice, Dark Chocolate, Oak & Coastal Salinity
🍽️ How to Enjoy
A 21-year-old cask-strength Oban deserves time and careful exploration:
- Sip neat first to experience its full natural-strength character
- Allow 15–20 minutes to open in a Glencairn or tulip-shaped whisky glass
- Add several drops of water to reveal additional fruit, honey, and citrus
- Gradually increase dilution to explore how the 115.8 Proof whisky evolves
- Avoid excessive ice, which can mute the nuances developed through 21 years of maturation
- Pair with smoked salmon, roasted nuts, aged cheese, or dark chocolate
- Excellent alongside grilled seafood or other savory dishes that complement Oban's coastal character
- Compare with Oban 14 Year to experience the effect of additional age and cask strength
- An outstanding centerpiece for a collection of Diageo Special Releases or mature Highland single malts
⭐ Why You'll Love It
- Extraordinary 21-year age statement
- Distilled in 1996 and bottled in 2018
- Part of the prestigious Diageo Special Releases Collection
- Matured entirely in refill European oak butts
- Bottled at natural cask strength
- Powerful 115.8 Proof presentation
- Combines mature Highland fruit with Oban's distinctive maritime character
- Rich notes of orange, honey, tropical fruit, spice, chocolate, and oak
- More powerful and concentrated than Oban's standard core expressions
- Mature European oak adds structure and darker flavor complexity
- Limited worldwide availability
- Older official Oban releases are relatively uncommon
- Highly appealing to collectors of discontinued Diageo Special Releases
- Excellent opportunity to experience mature Oban at full natural strength
- A rare expression from one of Scotland's most distinctive coastal distilleries
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Yes, a signature is required for all alcohol deliveries to verify that the recipient is of legal drinking age.
Since alcohol deliveries require an adult signature, we recommend shipping to a business address to ensure the package is received without delays.
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