#1 is a KILLER | Oban Whiskies RANKED

[@dairyyang5457]

Great rundown! Totally agree Oban and Old Pulteney share similar oceanic vibe. Though they are both coastal style, I would say Oban is more mineral/island-forward, and Old Pulteney is fruitier/speyside-forward.

[@Gwhisky]

They're definitely different, but it's the coastal vibe that connects them. They have their flaws, but it's that salty maritime character that makes them so special. I'm a fan of both!

[@sparkyfromel]

didn't like whiskies that much ,then tripped over Oban , having to choose between my girl-friend and my Oban , bye bye girl ....I loved you so much

[@squatchy69]

Distillers Edition is absolutely amazing

[@Gwhisky]

Glad you're enjoying it!

[@hansvaneenennaam457]

Well done Geoff, I will be looking forward to the 12 years CS review. Keep on going this way.

[@Gwhisky]

Thank you, Hans! Appreciate the kind words!

[@jckbquck]

I don't like to "subscribe", because I don't think much of most of the creators of these KZbin channels. However, I am going to make an exception here. Here's why I've decided to "subscribe": 1. I came across your reviews of Kavalan. It's now my favorite distillery, more than just because it has some fantastic tasting whiskies. (See 3.) 2. Then I watched this video and and learned that Oban is one of your favorites. I got into Single Malt Scotch because of Oban. There used to be a restaurant near SFO where my work buddy and I would go Friday after work. The restaurant had a huge whisky selection. There I had my first single malt; and it was Oban. I immediately fell in love with it. Here in California, Oban 14 is available at Costco for around $65. 3. You are in Taiwan?? I was born there. My wife is from there. I've been visiting there once a year for the last six years. I root for everything Taiwanese. I'm so proud on behalf of Kavalan for its achievements.

[@Gwhisky]

Thanks for the subscription, Jack. It's genuinely appreciated. Oban and Kavalan are indeed really special whiskies. I have a soft spot for both. Nice to hear you're fond of Taiwan. I'm very fortunate to live here. Affordable quality whisky at great prices aside, it's a wonderful place with wonderful people. Cheers!

[@werners5191]

Oban 14 is $80 in upstate New York (Utica area). Planning to get a bottle.

[@Balkonwhisky]

I only had the 14 which is still OK- Priced here in Germany with around 50€. OK-Priced Bottle and OK-Whisky inside. Thanks for your Opinion

[@Gwhisky]

Thanks for watching, Balkonwhisky!

[@cracked-actor]

I can't comment on the recent Distiller's Edition, but I recently had some that had been hiding in a cabinet for ~10 years and it was A M A Z I N G. Trying the Little Bay now and it's all right.

[@Gwhisky]

Nice find on that DE! Yeah the Little Bay is alright... 🥃

[@whiskeywishingwell6076]

Thanks for the review Geoff, I am not sure that CS 12 year old Oban is available in many places. Chicago area sold out in about a week last year. Only a few of the forty some Binny’s stores had any and within a week they were gone. The 18 is great, it was very reasonably priced a few years back. When the 21 year old came out for close to $350.00. I refused to pay that for a 21 year old, years later I would regret not spending $350. Apparently it is phenomenal.

[@Gwhisky]

Wow! Within a week? We still have some bottles here in Taiwan, although I have noticed they're starting to thin out. I wish I had a chance to try the 18 or the 21. Really hard to find here, and you're right the 21 is pretty pricey...

[@catnapgee5357]

Did you ever mention your preference between the Old Pulteney 15 vs the 18? Upon your OP 15 vid, I immediately purchased the last bottle before they all sold out where I am! I've heard more often than not, that it's better than the 18.

[@Gwhisky]

I'd agree with the consensus. I think the 15 is better value.

[@Rohit_M]

Thanks for the rundown of Oban core range Geoff. It sounds like the Diageo special release of Oban tops the list, however the prices for 14 and special release are crazy. Oban 14 now runs at $140 bucks in my market....good whisky but not great at that price.

[@Gwhisky]

Damn that's way too much! Definitely not worth it!

[@Gookrak]

Here, in eastern EU, all Oban bottlings are scarcely available and very expensive (70+ USD/EUR range, your No.1. pick would be at a hundred if it were available).

[@Gwhisky]

Damn, that's annoying. The Oban 14 in particular shot up a lot in price over the past year or so.

[@absolutwhisky3105]

This Oban 12 has just released to us for 100$ usd. I saw your reply to other comments here so i'll get a bottle for that price then. Thanks!

[@Gwhisky]

It is for me. That's actually less than what I paid. 🥃

[@absolutwhisky3105]

@@Gwhisky thanks! Much appreciated the response. Time to go get a bottle then.

[@catnapgee5357]

Great rundown. I cant remember if I ever asked if you've tried the Glen Garioch 12. Let me just say, if there was only one single malt I could ever drink for the rest of my life, given the price ..it would be the Glen Garioch 12! 48% abv, unchill, natural colour and delicious! After Alberta tax, it is $55 Canadian dollars. An absolute steel! Are you familiar with that one?

[@Gwhisky]

I've got a bottle on the go, and it's not working for me. I've had it twice before and I remember liking it more than this. Batch problem maybe. I'll review it eventually.

[@catnapgee5357]

@@Gwhisky ohh, that is unfortunate! I should have slightly held back my enthusiasm!

[@Gwhisky]

@@catnapgee5357 Hey man we don't always have to agree!

[@catnapgee5357]

@@Gwhisky As is what makes it all interesting!

[@TheHypnotstCollector]

Oban 14 is $62 at Costco and I've seen it at $100 at hovels like Safeway and such.

[@WhiskyJason1]

Oban 14 for the win - great stuff!

[@Gwhisky]

Great stuff!

[@kouritasvonkafthor468]

I try hard to distinguish the palette of distinct flavors in each bottle of whisky but in vain. It seems that i am rather blind as far as flavors are concerned. how the hell you are doing it; The reviews of the whiskies that you make are well structured and clear with the informations that are just necessary. Furthermore your speech has a poetic tone from time to time and that helps the listener to have a complete picture of the whisky that you reviewing plus the fact that you sound pleasant. You just keep going

[@Gwhisky]

Wow. This might be the most flattering comment I've had! Really nice of you to say, Kouritas! I wouldn't say there's anything too difficult when it comes to flavour breakdowns. For me it's just a loose association, I find flavours that are as close as I can describe to what's in the glass. There's no rules, so really you could pull out anything. Anyway I'm glad to hear you appreciate the reviews. Thanks for watching and chiming in with such a kind comment!

[@sowlegwhiskyreview5501]

Yeah well, that was pretty given. The bigger surprise was Little Bay outperforming the Distillers Edition. I like the DE, maybe not as much as some of the other DEs, but it still does pretty well. Cheers

[@Gwhisky]

To be fair, a better DE might have fared better than the Little Bay. I'm just not loving this 2017 release in particular.

[@barryfrombarnsley2790]

Wow, £34 for the 14 is great value, fair play. In the UK at the minute the Little Bay is coming in @ £52!

[@barryfrombarnsley2790]

The Oban 12CS is ~£105 in the UK, which is more than the Springbank 12CS, the Bunnahabhain 12CS, the Benromach CS, their single cask releases, Ardnamurchan CS, the current Laphroaig Cairdeas CS, their 10CS... I could go on... I'm going to sounds like a broken record, but Diageo just have their pricing so wrong its crazy

[@Gwhisky]

Fair enough. It's certainly pricey. It was £86 here in Taiwan, which is still quite substantial for me, but worth it. I don't know that I'd go too much higher, although it's genuinely beautiful stuff.

[@PezrulezHaakon]

Thank you Geoff for another great review 🤗 I had to look the 12yo CS up, and it's readily available here in Sweden, BUT it's $131 USD.... I don't know if it's worth that though. Wish it was $95-100. 131 is definitely pushing it for me. $30-60 are usually my go to. If I'm gonna pay $100-200 for a bottle, it has to be very, VERY good. Over $200 has to be a extremely delicious, divine bottle, waay passed Ardbegs ridiculously priced special releases 🙃 Maybe, just maybe, once in my lifetime, I buy a bottle up to $300, If there's a once in a lifetime, unforgettable occation, of some sort. 🤗😋

[@Gwhisky]

I understand your hesitation. I paid about USD $107 for my bottle, and I think it's 100% worth it. Would I pay more for it? Yeah, maybe. It's REALLY good. But it depends how much you like Oban. USD $130+ is a bit high.

[@lewisduffy675]

Just saw the 14 at my local liquor store for $139 CAD, Little Bay $119 lol! nope.

[@Gwhisky]

Hah nope.

[@lewisduffy675]

@@Gwhisky Jelly over that 12 CS tho. Sounds killer. Taking solace in having just scored an independent bottling of CS Mortlach. Fkn Diageo.

[@catnapgee5357]

Btw, how much did you pay for the Oban 12cs?

[@Gwhisky]

I paid US $107 for my bottle, but that price has already started climbing.

[@catnapgee5357]

@@Gwhisky You get great prices where you lve. That's it, I'm moving to Taiwan! :D

[@jeffreynicol8287]

Oban 14 is about $140 here in Canada. As with a ton of whiskys here in the country, it is overpriced. Also just a glimpse on how pretty much everything is overpriced in Canada. Its like being in a 3 star hotel while paying 5 star prices.

[@Gwhisky]

Lol quotable. Unfortunate, but quotable. 🥃

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

I would very much like to see you do a series on Glen Moray if they are available in Taiwan. In these increasingly difficult economic times, I think they generally represent great value and are highly drinkable ✌️

[@Gwhisky]

It's around, but it's not as cheap as it once was. Something to consider.

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

@@Gwhisky It's up a few bucks here too, I paid $30 for the Sherry Cask version the other day. I like the stuff.

[@lessonsfrompapatravis]

Do you like the 18?

[@Gwhisky]

Sadly I haven't tried it.

[@lessonsfrompapatravis]

@@Gwhisky The 2023 Calypso edition with rum casks is going to be my next Oban buy! Your reviews are great btw, and you deserve to be worshipped like a God! Just kidding haha your humor there. Did you see 2023 is the first PX sherry edition from Kilchomen? Looks great with the blue bottle

[@dtilli1]

Oban 14, $116 in Montreal!

[@Gwhisky]

Not surprised...

[@newvillagefilms]

Fast forward to 2:22 to skip all the natterings!

[@Gwhisky]

Good call. This guy's always prattling on...

[@stevenj3152]

£34.00 seems laughable now that Diageo has just upped their prices once again. Its got to the stage that local pubs are saying despite it being a big seller with tourists its not worth having it behind the bar when prices are so high. I've never really defended Diageo's way of doing business, but I've also tried to resist attacking it too, despite the trend for low ABVs colouring, and chill filtering and the like, but when the 14 is marketed as one of the Classic Malts of Scotland, and prices are getting so high that bars are having to consider selling what should be a reasonable priced core range product for £15 a dram its getting beyond silly. If this keeps up might have to consider moving to Taiwan for some sensible prices.

[@Gwhisky]

Yeah the new prices on the standard Obans are absurd. We're still better off in Taiwan than you guys are in the UK, but the price has shot up here as well. Not one I'll be buying much of down the line. Tragic. 🥃

[@jackthepickledhound]

What is wrong with Diageo? I don't want to be negative here but I'm compelled. Could it be profits over products? I just looked at my gifted and unopened bottle of "Night's Watch"......43%. That was an expensive one too. I'm sorry, "it may taste like pumpkin pie but I'll never enjoy it" I don't really have extra room on my bar for indie bottles of Diageo distilleries, much less official bottles. Thanks for the video. I know the whole damn industry is corporate but if you claim something is a Distiller's Edition...wtf? A friend of mine thought he was doing good with the GlenKinchie Distiller's Edition and it's Amontillado finish. Totally un-interesting half bottle now takes up space in the back of the closet. I would try the CS special releases if they weren't so rare and expensive

[@Gwhisky]

Fair enough. There are loads of people out there who outright refuse to buy Diageo products on principle. I understand why. They're basically the embodiment of "bottom line profits over craft presentation." It's a shame that they have some of the best distilleries in the game, and that they decide to either neuter or overcharge for their products (often both). The cs releases can be great whiskies, but they're definitely frustrating. The collectible bottle and the high price tag aren't going away though. I'll buy Diageo products that I think are worth it. That severely limits my choices, even here in Taiwan where whisky is cheap.

[@jackthepickledhound]

@@Gwhisky luckily in the US, OBAN and many Diageo bottles are not cheap. Strike 4!!!!

[@chefmarv6499]

The 14 is worth the 110$ I'm asked to pay here, but it's so damn good and not very complex so it ends up being a "bumper" bottle. Kind of whisky you go for while preparing dinner because it's easy. Goes down too fast for the price tag.

[@Gwhisky]

Yeah that's a bit high for a casual sipper. Good stuff, though!

[@loooonieeee]

Consider yourself very lucky to find Oban 14 so cheap!

[@Gwhisky]

I'm definitely lucky! Cheers!

[@silverfox108]

Wow that is a great price. It is 149 in Canada... I no longer buy it

[@Gwhisky]

Hah Canadian whisky prices man. I'd need a different hobby if I still lived there.

[@scnullois]

Diageo special releases are way too expensive

[@DileepB]

Oban 14 is definitely overpriced here in the US at over $100!

[@stevemcdede8559]

$80 total wine in denver. Still gives me pause.

[@dramman-onlydramnodrama4845]

$116.00 Canadian here in Montreal

[@wp2746]

Buy 3x 14 years old with more waxy and brininess vs 1 cask strength which devolves the oiliness to much.. the price ain’t right sorry

[@donmon5361]

good grief bro, would you stop with the Obans already, there is such better whisky out there.

[@Gwhisky]

One more left.