About the product
Oban 11 Year Old "The Soul of Calypso" is a limited-edition release from Diageo's 2023 Special Releases collection, "Spirited Xchange." This distinctive Highland single malt was matured and then finished in Caribbean pot still rum casks, creating a vibrant fusion of Oban's classic coastal maritime character with exotic tropical influences. Bottled at natural cask strength, the whisky delivers an intense and expressive profile that balances sea-salt freshness, rich fruit, warming spice, and rum-cask sweetness. Presented in striking artwork inspired by Caribbean carnival culture, this collectible release showcases a bold and innovative side of the Oban distillery.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairings
Taste Notes
The nose opens with sea breeze, citrus zest, tropical fruits, mango, pineapple, honey, vanilla, and gentle coastal salinity. The palate is rich and oily with flavors of sugar cane, orange peel, tropical fruit juice, caramel, vanilla cream, cinnamon, and baking spices layered over Oban's signature maritime character. The finish is long and warming with lingering sea salt, peppery spice, tropical fruit, and subtle smoke.
Food Pairings
This whisky pairs exceptionally well with grilled shrimp, lobster, seared scallops, jerk chicken, glazed pork, smoked salmon, aged Gouda, and Manchego cheese. Its tropical fruit and spice notes also complement pineapple upside-down cake, crème brûlée, mango desserts, dark chocolate, and spiced bread pudding. The rum-cask influence makes it particularly enjoyable alongside Caribbean-inspired cuisine.
About the brand
Oban is one of Scotland's oldest licensed distilleries, founded in 1794 in the coastal harbor town of Oban. The distillery is renowned for producing single malts that bridge the styles of the Highlands and the Islands, combining rich malt sweetness with maritime notes, gentle smoke, and coastal salinity. Oban's limited releases are highly collectible and showcase innovative maturation techniques while preserving the distillery's distinctive character.
