OBAN 12 YEAR OLD SPECIAL RELEASES 2021 SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

An evocative dram, shaded with spice yet also suffused with sunlight, out of the ordinary while remaining a fine representative of Oban’s understated, easy-drinking style.

An original Oban from non-traditional casks that has a great deal to say for itself as it skilfully entwines the lighter and darker traits of this famous bridge between the Highland and Island styles of single malt.

TASTING NOTES

APPEARANCE : Bright, pale gold.

BODY : Medium.

NOSE : Mellow, with elusive yet unmistakeably maritime top notes of crispy edible seaweed, crystal salt and coarse black pepper on a wooden trencher, perhaps accompanied by very lightly smoked fillets of white fish. After a while a spoonful of sweet chilli sauce is added to the platter while with a drop of water, light olive oil becomes the top note.

PALATE : Very smooth, soft and mouth-filling in texture, the taste is fruity and lightly citrus-sweet, balanced by a pinch of salt mid-palate and an insistent yet never overpowering spiciness from the fresh-charred casks. The effect is lush and vigorous, with a great balance between crunchy wood spice and fresh, fruity distillery character. Staying sweet throughout, it is delicious straight, while a dash of water lightly rounds the flavours, bringing up the fruity notes.

FINISH : Quite long, finishing spicy with a shake of pepper. Water brings forward a lovely smooth warmth in the aftertaste, as if to herald a final gleam of light.

Diageo unveils 2021 Scotch Whisky Special Releases Collection “Legends Untold”

Impeccably crafted, the highly anticipated Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection features eight treasured whiskies and this year, the first-ever augmented reality experience, revealing untold stories of the distilleries in a unique and enchanting way.

The 2021 collection, drawn from some of Scotland’s most interesting, legendary distilleries and curated by Master Blender Dr Craig Wilson, portrays the otherworldly beings which have fiercely protected the heartlands of remote Scottish distilleries for an eternity, according to our ancient fables, and the mythical creatures come to life revealing their true characters. Drawn from renowned distilleries, the collection nods to the hidden gems that can be found in each corner of the Scottish terrain amongst the lochs and rugged highlands.

The annual, carefully selected line-up highlights the diversity of our most treasured whisky reserves maturing in Scotland. Each whisky will be visually brought to life with heavily detailed illustrations and design work from renowned digital illustrator Ken Taylor. His striking signature style and interpretation of the mythical creatures takes cues from his portfolio of pop culture artwork.

Activated through an on-pack QR code, a multi-sensory experience begins with a narration of the cask-strength Single Malts’ tale. Enthusiasts are then guided through a mixed reality tasting experience, designed to captivate their senses and bring a taste of Scotland to their homes.

• For those curious to find out more, the collection includes:
• The darkly robust and rich Mortlach 13-Year-Old from the Speyside Dufftown distillery
• A briny, bold fire-breathing sea-monster of a malt with smoky undertones in the Talisker 8-Year-Old
• A rare Highland expression of the Royal Lochnagar with a nimble springtime freshness
• Two unique and enchanting expressions of the Lagavulin, ‘The King of Islay’: A fiercely intense, yet perfectly balanced sweet and salty 12-Year-Old and, the jewel in the crown, a 26-Year-Old, finished in first-fill Pedro Ximenez/Oloroso casks

“We have delved into the core characteristics of several classic distilleries, for the Legends Untold collection. Taking inspiration from the mythical creatures of this year’s collection, we have revealed new depths of flavour and embraced the essence of each whisky’s unique profile revealing the legend it brings to life. This year’s collection is just the very beginning of the story.” Dr Craig Wilson Master Blender