Review: Game of Thrones The Night’s Watch – Oban Bay Reserve
The eight and final expression under review from the Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection is Game of Thrones The Night’s Watch – Oban Bay Reserve, a single malt Scotch whisky from the Oban distillery, located in the Highland region of Scotland.
Game of Thrones The Night’s Watch – Oban Bay Reserve Specifications:
- Spirit: Scotch.
- Classification: Single Malt.
- Region: Highland.
- Age: NAS (No Age Statement).
- ABV: 43% (86 Proof).
- Cask Type: Matured in a combination of refill and double-charred ex-bourbon casks, as well as European oak.
- NCF (Non-Chill Filtered)? No.
- Natural Color? No.
- Price Paid: $53.54 for 750 mL.
Tasting Notes:
- Color: Amber.
- Nose: Fresh squeezed orange, apricot, plum, and floral tea intermingle with barrel char, saline, and a wisp of campfire smoke.
- Palate: Light-moderate body. Sweet and malty. The orange, apricot, and plum notes from the nose carry on through the palate and command your attention. Behind the fruit, we find heather, lavender, black tea, and baking spices, as well as vanilla, mild oak tannin, barrel char, light smoke and some salinity.
- Finish: Short. The fruit and floral notes fade quickly, allowing the barrel char, smoke, vanilla, and oak notes to briefly take the spotlight, accompanied by very faint herbal notes of menthol and spearmint.
Oban Bay Reserve is an easy drinking, fruit forward single malt that has all the characteristics that fans of the distillery have come to enjoy. However, it’s a lighter and less complex experience than Oban 14 Year Old, and is more in line with the likes of Oban Little Bay. I don’t mind a simple whisky when it’s executed well, but Oban Bay Reserve suffers from its light mouthfeel and short finish, which bring down the overall experience. I’m a sucker for citrus and stone fruit notes and this whisky has them in spades; it’s such a shame that they disappear almost immediately on the finish.
If you can find this on closeout for under $50 a bottle, it may be worth picking up as an alternative to Oban Little Bay. However, I wouldn’t recommend Oban Bay Reserve at full MSRP ($62.99). At that price, you’d be better off spending a little bit more and stepping up to Oban 14 Year Old.
Rating: C+ (77–79%).
A Second Opinion:
My cousin Jayson and I frequently participate in bottle splits and share samples of new releases. When possible, I’ll share his tasting notes alongside mine.
Jayson’s Notes:
- Color: Amber.
- Nose: Sweet. Artificial fruitiness – orange gummies. Slightly perfumy. Very faint woody smoke reminiscent of the wood filter on Swisher Sweets Cherry cigarillos.
- Palate: Sweet. More fruit. Pear, sweet citrus, rice pudding. Somewhat one dimensional, but easy to drink.
- Finish: Sweet and light. Not particularly complex, but balanced and with no surprises. Fruit turns into vanilla and caramel.
I didn’t get as much peat on Oban Bay Reserve as I do on Oban 14 Year Old, and not even close to as much complexity. It’s still balanced and easy to drink, albeit light. The best way to describe it is Oban Little Bay, but slightly younger and less complex. Of the Oban expressions I’ve had, the 14 Year Old is by far the best, with a bit of a drop off to Oban Little Bay, followed closely by Oban Bay Reserve.
Jayson’s Rating: B- (80–82%).