Oban

The Oban distillery was founded in 1794 by brothers John and Hugh Stevenson in the town of Oban on the west coast of Scotland. Interestingly, the distillery was established before the town itself – it was around the distillery and the fishing port that today's town of Oban, known as the "gateway to the Hebrides," began to take shape.

During the 19th century, the distillery changed hands several times and in 1898 it was acquired by Dew of Ben Nevis, which, however, went bankrupt shortly thereafter. Since then, Oban has experienced periods of stagnation, but it has never disappeared. Today, it belongs to Diageo and is part of the prestigious Classic Malts of Scotland collection, where it represents the west coast.

Oban is a relatively small distillery – it has only two stills, making its production one of the smallest among well-known brands (around 870,000 liters per year). However, this allows it to maintain consistent quality and traditional character.

Oban whisky is made from malt dried with gentle peat smoke, which gives it a subtle smoky flavor. It is mainly aged in bourbon oak barrels, and some editions are also aged in sherry barrels, which give it fruitiness and depth.

Portfolio:
Oban 14 Years Old – the brand's flagship, a classic example of the Oban style: sweet, fruity, with hints of sea salt and subtle smoke.
Oban Distillers Edition – matured in Montilla Fino sherry casks, which add richer fruit and wine notes.
Oban Little Bay – NAS edition (no age statement), smoother, more accessible, with an emphasis on fruitiness.
Limited editions – regularly released as part of the Diageo Special Releases collection, popular among connoisseurs.

Oban is one of the few distilleries located right in the city center – its buildings literally neighbor residential houses and shops. It is considered a "bridge" between Highlands and island whiskeys: it is not as peaty as Islay brands, but it has more smoke and sea flavor than classic Speyside whiskeys. Oban 14 Year Old is often recommended as an ideal "introduction to single malt whisky" – complex yet accessible.

Oban is a small but extremely important Scottish distillery with more than 225 years of history. Its whisky offers a unique combination of sweetness, fruitiness, subtle smoke, and sea saltiness, which sets it apart from others and makes it one of the most popular single malts in the world.