Glenlivet 15 vs Oban 14: Head to Head!

Discover the differences between Glenlivet 15 vs Oban 14 in this head to head comparison and decide which Single Malt is better for You!

Glenlivet 15

Nose	Vanilla, orange peel, caramel
Palate	Nutty flavor, caramel, vanilla, oak spice
Finish	Long, oak, almond
Alcohol content	80 proof (40% ABV)
How to drink	Neat
Similar to	Glenfiddich 15, Glenlivet 14

The Glenlivet 15 offers a nice sweet aroma with hints of vanilla and caramel, along a bit of citrus peel.

On the mouth it feels creamy providing a good mouthfeel. Flavor is smooth and rich in caramel and vanilla, with a noticeable nutty hint and a pleasant hit of oak spice, with nothing overwhelming or off-putting.

The finish is where this malt shines as it has smooth and lingering flavors with some nice oak and spicy hints and pleasing warmth on the tail.

The Glenlivet 15 offers good value within the Glenlivet family as it is an improvement over its 12 YO and is even better than the 18YO.

Those two are overly smooth but quite boring, frankly. The 15 YO is a smooth and yet flavorful malt, striking a nice balance between spicy and sweet notes and a bit of warmth on the tail that sits well.

This whisky would be even better if it had a higher proof but Glenlivet like to water-down its malts a bit.

The Glenlivet 15 is first aged for 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels and for 3 years in French Limousin Oak. Those with expertise in casks ensure that the large-grain and tannic wood of these barrels “ensures a clear color and an impressive expression in all spirits”.

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Glenlivet 15:

• Gold Medal at the 2014 International Wine & Spirits Competition.

• Glenlivet is the best-selling single malt whisky in the United States and second globally behind Glenfiddich.

• Glenlivet dates back to 1824 and is currently owned by Paris-based Pernod Ricard along other household names such as Jameson and Chivas.

Oban 14

Nose	Ripe fruit, orange peel, smoke
Palate	Dried fruit, pear, apple, cinnamon
Finish	Long, oak, baking spice, salt
Alcohol content	86 proof (43% ABV)
How to drink	Add water
Similar to	Talisker 10, Macallan 12

The nose is quite promising as it kicks-off with a ripe fruit note, along citrus peel and a touch of smoke.

On the palate, Oban 14 provides a nice mouthfeel as the body feels creamy. Flavor hits with dried fruit at first, followed by pear and apple shrouded in baking spice and a gentle tad of smoke.

The finish is long and pleasantly warm, leaving an aftertaste of oak, baking spice and salt.

Oban 14 has a very pleasant smoky taste that doesn’t overwhelm other notes making it a good choice for those who want smoke in moderation when compared to Smoky Islay Malts that offer blasts of smoke.

This is a nice and easy sip that you can drink either neat or adding a dash of water bringing additional sweetness and more oak, although I like it as is.

This single malt was aged for 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels and you can tell as there are many bourbon-like notes in it. So if you are fond of this liquor and want to add a tad of smoke Oban is a no-brainer.

Oban is one of Scotland’s smallest distilleries as it only has 2 pot stills, making it a midget when compared to Glenfiddich that has 30.

It dates back to 1794 when it was founded by the brothers John and Hugh Stevenson in the Port of Oban which was named after the distillery and not the other way around!

Overall, this is pretty good Single Malt Whisky for those who want restrained smoky notes.

There are a few facts worth knowing about this whisky:

• Oban ages for 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels.

• Earned a Gold Medal at the 2013 International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Glenlivet 15 vs Oban 14: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whisky	Price
Glenlivet 15	$67
Oban 14	$62

Glenlivet 15 vs Oban 14: Which is better?

Glenlivet 15 is easier to drink

Whiskey	Glenlivet 15	Oban 14
Nose	✅	✅
Body	✅	✅
Palate	✅	✅
Finish	✅	✅
Value	✅	✅

• The Glenlivet 15 is a good choice for those who want a sweet and smooth whisky, free of complicated notes and with the right level of warmth.

• Oban 14 is quite pleasant too, it’s quite restrained on the smoke, rich in caramel and mineral notes making a more complex whisky ad still an easy drinker.