Oban Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky

After moving with their widowed mother to the small port city of Oban, John and Hugh Stevenson began building and repairing boats a trade they had learned from their father at the Oban shipyards. In the 1790s, the brothers left their jobs at the shipyard and founded a brewery in the city. In 1794, they converted their brewery into Oban Distillery, one of the oldest and most prestigious distilleries in Scotland.For nearly a century, Oban Distillery remained in the hands of the Stevenson family. In 1883, however, J. Walter Higgin purchased the distillery and began renovations. While Higgin renovated both the distillerys equipment and structure, he did so piecemeal in order to ensure that the distillery was able to meet the uninterrupted demand for its whisky. Today, over 100 years later, Oban Distillery remains substantially the same as it was after Higgins refurbishment.Oban Single Malt Whisky is made using barley that is malted to the distillerys exact specifications. After the barley is malted, it is partially germinated and gently dried over a peat kiln, giving it a slightly smoky, malty flavor profile. Then, the malted barley is mashed and fermented before being twice-distilled through Obans lantern-shaped copper-pot stills. The stills are among the smallest in Scotland, and limit Obans production to just 650,000 liters of whisky annually.Following distillation, Oban Distillers Edition Single Malt Whisky is aged for 14 years in oak casks. During this beauty rest, the whisky is touched by its environment and geography the warm, salty Gulf Stream and mild, temperate climate of Oban are reflected in the whisky. After its initial maturation, the whisky is double-barreled, or finished, in ex-Montilla Fino sherry casks. The sherry casks add notes of dried fruits, particularly cherries and strawberries, to the whisky, and complement its notes of light, peaty smoke.Oban Distillers Edition Single Malt Whisky has a fruity nose, with hints of grapes, citrus and a touch of smoke. The flavor is full and rich, with complex notes of tangy salt, butterscotch, caramel and toffee, which ultimately lead to a lingering, smoky and sweet finish. Oban is situated at the frontier between the Western Highlands and Islay of Scotland the whisky has the lighter, sweeter notes of Scotlands Highlands region, while still possessing the dry, smoky style of Islay.Pick up one of these rare treasures today!