Robert Oster Whiskey Fountain Pen Ink Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

Ever since I saw Robert Oster's Whiskey fountain pen ink, I've wanted to try it out. For one reason or another, I either forgot to add it to an order or didn't have luck with it being in stock. But, I finally have it and have been using this brown-orange for the last couple weeks.

Whiskey is part of a collection of ink called Drinks that represents different drink colors. The caramel color of this particular ink does a fantastic job of emulating the smooth amber/brown liquid it's named after. Described as a "terracotta orange," this is an earthy ink with a little bit of shading to add some great character.

While whiskeys vary a lot in color, I think the hue that Robert Oster captured in this ink is a fantastic representation of the general spirit. As someone who has almost no other inks that fall into this brown-orange territory, I'm afraid I might have stumbled into a new favorite color category. It reminds me a little of Diamine's Ancient Copper, but with a lighter hue and more orange. In all, it's a fantastic color that suits everyday writing while adding a bit of flare that's easy to see on the page.

Aside from the warm, caramel color of this ink, it acts like every other Robert Oster ink I've ever tried. When it comes to the writing experience and my expectations, Robert Oster inks have gotten a little boring — meaning they always behave well in the pen and provide an excellent writing experience. With Robert Oster inks, you really only have to focus on the colors you like as well as other characteristics like shading and sheen. Regardless of what you pick, the baseline performance and behavior is stellar.

There's no feathering or bleeding to speak of (I'm not counting a little bit of feathering in one of my swatch samples because that's not what I consider a normal use). Show-through is minimal given the overall light/medium shade.

My favorite attribute of this ink apart from the color is the light level of shading you get with it. Like the spirit, there isn't any variation in the base color, but the fact that it's a liquid means it can look lighter or darker depending on how much of it is in a vessel, how much light is traveling through it, etc. This small bit of shading that the ink exhibits is a perfect nod to the fact that it's emulating a liquid. The little bits of darker brown/orange around the edges of letters where the ink pools up is so satisfying. If there wasn't any shading with this ink, the overall color might be a little drab. The shading gives it that little touch of character that elevates it to another level in terms of visual interest.

There is some bad news, though. This is not a fast-drying ink. It takes roughly 25 to 35 seconds to dry to a point where it doesn't smudge. For me, the sweet spot for ink dry times is around 20 seconds. Anything less than that is gravy. At 30 seconds or more, it means I have to take that into consideration when choosing whether to use that specific pen. This will be even more of a consideration for left-handed writers or for anyone that grips then pen in a way that means your hand or arm trails the pen's writing direction. There will be smudges!

Despite the slower dry time, this ink instantly shot to the top of my current list of favorite inks. Back when I first saw it and liked the color on screen, I should have just picked it up. Like I said, with Robert Oster inks, you know you'll get a great ink, so it's all a matter of listening to what colors speak to you.

Robert Oster Whiskey is available in a 50ml bottle for just $18. This is on par for other Oster inks, and a great value for what you get. If you dig this color, then you won't be let down by how it performs and looks on the page!

(Pen Chalet provided this product at a discount to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

---

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!

uniball Jetstream Lite Touch 4+1 Multi Pen Giveaway

Review yesterday, giveaway today! I gave my thought’s on the new uniball Jetstream Lite Touch pens in yesterday’s post, and today I’m giving away one of those pens. The Sage Green Multi Pen features four new Lite Touch ink cartridges in Black, Blue, Green, and Red, plus an 0.5 mm mechanical pencil insert. To win, read the rules below and enter away!

uniball Jetstream Lite Touch 4+1 Multi Pen Giveaway

uniball Jetstream Lite Touch Ballpoint Pen Review

Top to bottom: uniball Jetstream Lite Touch 0.5 mm, 0.7 mm, two 0.5 mm 4+1 multi pens.

There’s no point in burying the lede: the uniball Jetstream Lite Touch is better than the standard Jetstream in every line width and ink color I have tested so far.

uniball considers the Lite Touch a separate product from all existing Jetstream models. They did this recently with the uniball One as it compares to their other gel ink offerings, like the Signo lineup (which, in itself, has many different ink formulations.) With the Lite Touch, not only has the ink formulation changed, uniball added some design elements - and marketing - into the barrel.

The Jetstream is already the best ballpoint pen on the market, so how did uniball make it better? They focused on smoothness and lower friction while writing on the page, and I’d say they succeeded in comparison to existing models, if only slightly. The biggest change I see is that the ink is richer and darker compared to the standard Jetstream. I was already a big Jetstream fan, but the way the Lite Touch ink looks and performs puts it a clear step ahead.

There is a bit of “Keeping up with the Joneses,” in the Lite Touch release, as the quiet barrel of the Zebra bLen has become a hit on the store shelves. uniball redesigned the barrel interior and knock to limit vibration when writing, which can be an annoyance. An annoyance which I never had with any previous Jetstream model, but the market has dictated with the bLen and Pentel Calme that tip rattle is out, and quiet writing is in. What took them all so long?

Standard version 4+1 on top. Ignore the refill length difference between the two - the orange one has a specialty grip.

I had several models of the uniball Jetstream Lite Touch sent to me by a friend in Japan: 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm single barrel pens, and 0.5 mm 4+1 multi pen. When I began testing them alongside Jetstream pens I already owned, I could instantly tell a difference: the ink is darker.

The Lite Touch refill (top,) is marked SXR-L, assumedly for “Lite Touch.” SXR-L-7 for 0.7 mm, versus SXR-7 for the standard 0.7 mm. The refill shape is the same so you can swap the Lite Touch refill into your favorite Jetstream barrel.

The ink color differences may be difficult to pick up in pictures, but I can tell them apart easily in person.

Lite Touch is on the top, and maybe you can see a slightly darker line compared to the bottom.

The Black 0.5 mm and 0.7 mm Lite Touch inks are fantastic. And the Blue ink from the multi pen is the standout among all of the colors, with a richness that puts it as the single best Blue ballpoint ink on the market. I cannot wait until I can get it in an 0.5 mm single barrel.

These are the Lite Touch 0.5 mm multi pen refills, with the LT ink sample listed first for each color. It’s difficult to tell looking at the image, but in person I can tell them apart.

The only ink that performed poorly was the Green ink. This is expected, as it is always the worst performing of the 4+1 colors. If they dropped it from the lineup completely, it wouldn’t be missed. Red can be hit or miss, and the Lite Touch color is a hit. It’s nice enough to use in rotation with Black and Blue, instead of every once in a while.

Still tough to see in pictures.

Same with the 0.5 mm Blue ink comparison.

What does the future hold for the Jetstream Lite Touch? If we use the uniball One as a roadmap, different barrel types - hopefully still of the quiet variety - are likely in store. It wasn’t until the One F that I became a fan of that ink formulation, and I still prefer most of the Signo gel inks over the One.

With the Lite Touch, I don’t think that’s going to be the case at all. I think it is superior in every way to the existing Jetstream, and I wonder if it won’t completely take over in the next few years. The plan, for now, is to have both Jetstream lineups available. Superfans - like myself - will be relegated to paying a premium price for a premium product. In this case, it is well deserved.

Remember the Jetstream? Those were good times.

Availability of the uniball Jetstream Lite Touch is still mostly limited to Japan, for now. Wider release is expected in 2025, and, of course, there are many importers and second-hand markets where you can currently find these pens.

---

Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!