My wife, Christine, is a wonderful partner. Beyond her metaphysical qualities I could wax poetic about for days, she is also incredibly generous, and chose to spoil me with another high-end limited-release whisky for Christmas (as she’d previously done with the delightful Talisker 11 Special Release). On top of nabbing a bottle much pricier than I’d treat myself to, she also got one with outstandingly beautiful bottle art — and it was cask strength to boot (my fave!)
On paper, whether Christine knew it or not, the Oban 11 Special Release Soul of Calypso was set up for my enjoyment in a big way. While I haven’t had many ex-rum cask scotches before, I had loved the Balvenie Caribbean Cask. Plus, despite occasionally shuddering at the expense, I’ve enjoyed going in for other Obans before (we even visited the town on our drive through Scotland) Add to that the aforementioned natural cask strength, and you’d assume a slam dunk.
But — and this is a bit of a review spoiler — the Oban 11 Soul of Calypso is just a bit too weird for me to laud as I’ve lauded similar scotches. Here’s what I thought:
Oban 11 Special Release 2023 Review
Everything about the Oban 11 Special Release is a bit odd, from its 11-year age statement to it’s appearance in the glass. This scotch pours the most delicate pale straw of any scotch I’ve ever seen — in the dim light I first tried it, I actually thought it was a white dog (un-oaked) whisky for a solid second. But no — it’s just a little on the albino side, despite its decade+1 in ex-rum casks. Unlike its delicate colouring, the Oban 11 sits lushly in its glass, looking every bit the thickness of a 58% ABV whisky.
The nose is the absolute worst thing about the Oban 11 Special Release. It smells downright sour — a bit like really strong Sake or other rice wine. There’s a pungent grassiness there and a distinct kick of Rum, all swirling between and around the intense alcohol fumes. On the plus side there’s a touch of honey and a kiss of smokiness, but altogether kinda…not my thing.
I braced myself for a sip as disappointing as the smell, but mercifully I was spared — it tasted pretty good! The sourness faded completely (save for the inevitable alcoholic tang), and was replaced with a dollop of brown sugar, some nutmeg and a cinnamon note that pared fantastic with the spiciness and heat brought on by this seriously potent dram. It wasn’t terribly complex — honestly it erred on the side of over-simple. But totally drinkable. The body was extremely heavy and rich, and the finish lingered on and on, a fencing match going on between the sweetness and the alcohol, with just a whiff of peat smoke to referee.
Overall, I did enjoy the Oban 11 Special Release 2023. But for its price (which at the time of writing exceeds $207 CAD), I won’t be buying another bottle and I’m sure glad it came as a gift from my lovely wife. Still, it’s a bottle I’ll enjoy sipping slow throughout.
