Oban The Soul of Calypso 11 Year Old (Special Release 2023) Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

This year's Oban comes finished in casks that previously held Caribbean Pot Still rum. The combination evokes tropical fruits, sugar cane and mango, building on Oban's fusion of Highland and Island styles. 58% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... Himalayan salt bricks, ground pepper, grapefruit peel, and herbal notes, with a hint of dairy toffee on the nose. Sweet tropical fruit flavors—mango, papaya, and lychee—then salted caramel, lemon bonbons, rich toffee, and long-lasting spice on the finish. Water adds lime marmalade and a more oily texture. There are sufficient Oban signature notes here, but the rum cask finish twists it into exciting new directions. 90 points - whiskyadvocate.com

...Well, it seems we shouldn't expect too much of malt whiskies in their natural state anymore; finishes are really becoming common everywhere, even in more or less prestigious ranges, which seems a bit contradictory. In our simple minds, finishes are the cheap versions of malt whiskies, done exclusively for clumsy newcomers (exaggerating a wee bit, once more). Colour: white wine. Nose: a form of sweetness is felt, orange syrup, guava, but not really high-ester rum, at least not notes that could be clearly attributed to any Jamaican pot still, for example, rather than the saline and slightly mustardy character of Oban. Let's see what water will do: not much further development, other than a curiously 'Talisker' side, smoky, with damp earth and polish. Much less exotic fruit than I expected, in the end. Mouth (neat): very powerful, very salty, always with mustard, black olive... With water: more sweetness, around a cough syrup to which honey, Italian bitter, and oranges have been added. I don't find it particularly tropical. Finish: long, earthy and rooty, this time with indeed exotic touches. Mustard returns in the aftertaste, with pepper, nutmeg and a bit of paraffin. Comments: I'm not too sure, actually, in the long term (let's say twenty minutes) the rum notes do come and go. But it remains Oban and I really like Oban. 85 points - whiskyfun.com