Oban 12 year old (Diageo Special Releases 2021), 56.2%

Comprised of freshly charred American oak casks, this shows cream, citrus, vanilla, and salted caramel on the nose, with new wood spices, dry chile flakes, and star anise. Sweet tangy orange on the palate initially, becoming more marmalade-like, before a sustained wave of pepper rides in with flavors of salted caramel and peanut brittle. The cask strength makes all the difference here, delivering a more gutsy Oban than the standard bottlings.