Oban 14 vs Talisker 10: Discover the Better!

Discover the differences between Oban 14 vs Talisker 10 in this in-depth comparison and decide which SIngle Malt is better for You!

Oban 14

• Nose: Ripe fruit, citrus peel, smoke.
• Palate: Dried fruit, pear, apple, baking spice, smoke.
• Finish: Long, oak, baking spice, salt.

The nose is quite good 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 Scotch for those who want restrained smoky notes.

Discover how it compares to the Caol Ila 12!

There are a few facts worth knowing about this whisky:

• Bottled at 86 proof (43% ABV).

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

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

Talisker 10

• Nose: Smoke, pear and apple.
• Palate: Smoke, dried fruit, mineral notes, cereal, pepper.
• Finish: Long and pleasantly peppery

There is a fair amount of smoke on the nose at first, followed by hints of pear, apple and a bit of iodine.

On the palate, the Talisker 10 displays a creamy texture. Flavor offers a moderate hit of smoke at first, that quickly mellows out into rich dried fruit sweetness, with hints of cereal, black pepper and a mineral note.

The finish is long, with a satisfying warming peppery note and mineral finish with a bit of oak spice and caramel.

Adding a dash of water tunes-down the pepper, while releasing sweet notes, making it easier to sip.

Talisker 10 is a creamy and full flavored whisky. This is a peaty whisky but not as heavy as some of the Islay malts as it does not overpowers other flavors.

Talisker strikes a nice balance between smoke, salinity, peppery notes and honey-like sweetness.

Overall, Talisker 10 is not an entry-level single malt but it makes a solid option for true whisky aficionados that like peat in moderate amounts in their drinks.

I’ve included the Talisker among the best 10 year old whiskies so you can get an idea of good it is.

Learn how it compares to the Laphroaig 10!

There are a few facts worth knowing about this whisky:

• Bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV).

• Aged in ex-bourbon barrels.

• Was rated Best Buy by Wine Enthusiast.

• Awarded with 94 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2013.

• Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2013.

• Talisker is an Island Whisky crafted in the Isle of Skye since 1830; founded by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill.

Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whisky	Price
Oban 14	$95
Talisker 10	$75

Oban 14 vs Talisker 10: Which is better?

Both are quite good with the Oban being lighter on the smoke

Whiskey	Oban 14	Talisker 10
Nose	✅	✅
Body		✅
Palate	✅	✅
Finish	✅	✅
Value		✅

• Oban 14 is light on the smoke making a better introductory bottle to this type of whisky.

• Talisker 10 is heavier on the smoke but still easy when compared to smoky monsters like Port Charlotte or Ardbeg that are way more demanding.

• These are good single malts worth enjoying as they are quite rewarding with no off-putting notes.

• If you are new to this type of whisky try the Oban 14 which is a safer bet but a little too pricey, though.

What do Oban and Talisker have in common?

Both are owned by London-based Diageo

They are both owned by Diageo, the British drinks giant, who has an extensive list of brands under its wing being Johnnie Walker the most recognizable.

These whiskies contribute with malts to Johnnie Walker’s blends. As you might know Johnnie Walker’s whiskies are blends of several whiskies made from grain and malts crafted in several distilleries across Scotland.