Oban Bay Reserve

About the Oban Bay Reserve

Oban Bay Reserve is a single malt Scotch whisky from the Highland town of Oban. It was bottled at 43% for The Game of Thrones Collection, where it stands in for the Night's Watch. There is no age statement on the label. The spirit came from refill and double-charred ex-bourbon casks, with European oak in the mix. It skips chill filtration, so the texture keeps its weight. The distillery stands on the west coast, across the Firth of Lorn from Mull. Only two stills work here, shaped like old lamp glasses. Their vapour runs into wooden worm tubs rather than modern condensers. That slower cooling leaves the spirit oily and heavier. Water comes from Loch Gleann a Bhearraidh, the town reservoir, set in old volcanic rock. Larch washbacks and a steel mash tun complete the short list of kit. Fresh orange and apricot lead the nose, with plum behind them. Barrel char and a salty edge cut through the fruit. The palate turns sweet and malty, carrying heather, lavender and black tea. Vanilla and light oak tannin sit underneath, with baking spice around the rim. Smoke stays faint throughout, more campfire than bonfire. The finish is short, dry and nutty, closing on char and a cool trace of spearmint. Oban Bay Reserve carries no age statement, which sets it apart from the distillery's aged bottlings. Blending casks rather than counting years let the team chase a lighter, fruitier profile. The double-charred ex-bourbon wood pushes vanilla and char forward. European oak adds the darker fruit underneath. Its Game of Thrones livery made it a collector's bottle as much as a drinking one. What is in the glass still tastes like everyday Oban, just brighter and softer.