Oban Little Bay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

[@ddresely]

Oban 14 is my go-to when traveling. Most hotel and local bars have it and I find it more interesting than the usual Glenlivit/Glenfiddich. For a small distillery it seems to be in a lot of bars. I do like the DE version but harder to find.

[@scottdavis5749]

Costco had them for $40 so I bought two today and giving it a try tonight

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Definitely worth $40!

[@jeff8846]

lol, I just did the same thing

[@jamescostigan3721]

I have a soft spot for this one since it was one of my first experiences on my whisky journey. I am generally averse to peat, but I like this one and don't find it too overwhelming. I get it in my area (Massachusetts) for between $40 - $46. The Oban 14 is up around the $75 - $80 mark. For me at those prices, the Little Bay is a keep-a-bottle-on-hand-no-brainer. The 14, not so much. I wish it was NCF and 46%, but Little Bay is still a nice value dram for me. Despite my peat aversion, this is a nice palate change-up every once in a while. Cheers!

[@DileepB]

Best price at Gordons around $50, but $75 on the West Coast! Not worth $75.

[@jamescostigan3721]

$50 would be my limit. I currently can find it at one shop for $39.99. Definitely worth $40.@@DileepB

[@maddkatter7948]

39.99 at costco today. Have to try it out.

[@TaterDom]

Cheers Erik! 🥃

[@Koby616]

Sometimes prices are crazy. Specially for non age statements. thanks for review

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

So true!

[@johnzajac9849]

Please review the Northern Irish whisky called 'Limavady'. As a lover of non-peaty whiskies, I can still like the very affordable Jura 10, which has a peaty quality - but not too much.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Thanks for the suggestion. But I am currently studying for the Master of Scotch Whisky exam which will be held on the Isle of Raasay in April 2024. So, all of my time is being spent on studying for the exam. It will be a while time before I do anything else.

[@johnzajac9849]

@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies Best of luck in the exam! Merry Christmas!

[@sierrastriker77]

Solid review that pretty much dovetails with my thoughts on this one: Solid representation of Oban's style, not as complex and/or funky as the Oban 14, but more concentrated on a narrower band of the distillery character and grossly overpriced. Ralfy included in his roundup of his 'Decent NAS' from big distilleries a few years ago which prompted me to buy it. Won't do that again!

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Thanks for watching!

[@jeff8846]

Got a bottle at Costco for $40. Well worth that price point

[@greenvalley651]

If you were to compare oban with benriach smoky Ten, I will see more of a similarly but Ardbeg better? That's a different flavor way far, it's but to how likes vanilla vs chocolate vs

[@foodquig]

I was not impressed by Little Bay at all when I first opened the bottle... After six months, it was the most improved whisky I ever tried. I would give this one lots of time in an opened bottle.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

I am a major proponent of aerating whisky, especially peated whiskies. They changes that can happen after the bottle has been open can be quite dramatic.

[@warddman]

Costo has it for 40.00 in my area

[@vimalrajkappil]

Good price

[@jackthepickledhound]

Seems to be the only place to buy it, if you really have to.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

AWESOME! Once in a while I see crazy deals at Costco like pallets of Lagavulin 16 for under $50 per bottle.

[@UsedBrain4U]

I have always taken a pass on Oban because i dont want to put out that much money for a Single Malt under 46%. Little Bay is $105 CAD locally.

[@hamo4558]

I prefer the Little Bay over the 14, & therefore believe its worth a few dollars more, but both overpriced in my opinion.

[@greenvalley651]

Oban is completely different than Ardbeg. It's like saying chocolate ice cream is way way better than vanilla ice cream, it's two different things.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

I am comparing peated with peated. My main point is the quality/price ratio.

[@jackthepickledhound]

Sometimes I feel like an a**hole trash talking Diageo. As if my opinion matters to anyone. Is it a David a Goliath thing? Or is it that 43% , chill filtered, e150 that puts it in the no-go zone for me? I directly know half a dozen people in the wine/liquor business (other than retail) and they make their living either directly from Diageo or adjacent to. One sales rep recommended Glenmorangie 18 as a worthy bottle to spend $150 and enjoy. I am more of an Ardbeg/Springbank drinker so that will never happen. For $150 there are MANY more interesting drams. Mortlach for example is more to my taste, except for the Diageo thing. So.....i was gifted over the years 2 bottles of Little Bay, a Craggenmore, GOT Nights Watch-Oban and GOT Lag9. Might as well all be JW Black label as far as I'm concerned. The Lag I know is a good one but that Oban in the black tube is still 43%. WTF??? I kinda want to try it but wtf? And Craggenmore? Would it make a good highball ? I gave away one little bay and the others are in storage. To finish the rant, and not sure if this makes me a hypocrite but I will gladly buy the next Lag11 if i see it for leas than $90. Oban draws alot of admiration from fans. I just met a cousin's fiance last week and he too worked for Diageo and Oban was his favorite distillery. They visited Scotland this summer and that was the only distillery he convinced her to go to. We're planning a trip because I want to visit Tobermory across the bay. LOL.(Not really sure if I'll ever do a serious multi distillery tour like you or get there at all) I'm sure Oban is delicious, in a moderate way. I think I'll ask for a pour next time we're out to dinner so I'm not totally talking out my ass😂

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Anyone who totally trashes Diageo should try Mortlach and Lagavulin and visit the distilleries to meet the people who work there.