Distillery

Oban whiskies

Oban is a western Highland distillery in the centre of the town of the same name, a port from which ferries leave for the Hebrides. It belongs to Diageo, which chose it to represent the western Highlands in its Classic Malts collection. It is one of the group’s smallest distilleries, wedged between the harbour and a cliff. Its style combines Highland fruit with a maritime touch and some smoke.

Founded
1794
Owner
Diageo
Origin
Highlands, Scotland
In the catalogue
3 whiskies

History, style and where to startSee it on the world map

  • Oban distillery, photo 1 of 3
    Photo: Reading Tom from Reading, UK · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons (cropped and converted)
  • Oban distillery, photo 2 of 3
    Photo: Alexey Komarov · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons (cropped and converted)
  • Oban distillery, photo 3 of 3
    Photo: John Lord · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons (cropped and converted)

3 whiskies

Guide to Oban

History

The distillery was founded at the end of the 18th century by the Stevenson brothers, local merchants, and the town of Oban grew up around it. That is why today it is surrounded by streets and houses and cannot expand: behind it is a cliff and in front of it, the town. In the 19th century it changed hands and was rebuilt, and at the beginning of the 20th it passed to the Distillers Company. In 1988 it was included in Diageo’s Classic Malts collection, and its 14-year-old became one of Scotland’s most popular malts. It has a very busy visitor centre.

House style

Oban uses small stills and worm tubs, which give a full-bodied spirit. The style combines orange, honey, ripe fruit, spice and a briny touch, with very gentle smoke at the end. It is a medium-bodied malt, halfway between the Highlands and the islands. Special editions, such as the Distillers Edition finished in fino sherry, add dried fruit and a briny note.

Average flavour profile of its 3 whiskies in the catalogue

Sweet
2.8
Fresh fruit
2.5
Ripe and dried fruit
1.5
Floral and herbal
1.0
Cereal and malt
1.8
Vanilla and creamy
1.7
Oak
1.7
Spicy
1.8
Toasted
1.7
Smoky
1.0
Maritime
1.5
Body and intensity
2.7

Where to start

Oban 14 Year Old is the classic expression: orange, honey, salt and gentle smoke, very balanced. Oban Little Bay goes through small casks, which intensify the wood and sweetness. Both are good options if you’re after a coastal malt without Islay’s intensity. Drink them neat or with a few drops of water, which open up the orange and salt. If you like them, compare them with Talisker or Clynelish.

This text was generated and translated by AI and may contain errors. Founding year, owner and official website come partly from Wikidata.

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