Oban’s still house, like Royal Lochnagar’s, suggests a heavy, sulphury whisky style due to its small, onion-shaped stills and the use of worm tubs for condensing. Yet, Oban’s character is notably light and fruity, achieved through innovative practices. To increase copper interaction, essential for a lighter spirit, the distillery runs its worm tubs hot and allows oxygen to rejuvenate the copper by opening the still doors after distillation. The result is a clean, intensely fruity whisky with a distinctive mineral spiciness, often interpreted as saltiness, developed further during ageing in refill casks.
Oban is unique as both a seaside and urban distillery, with its history intertwined with the town it resides in. The distillery shares its founding with the town itself, which was established by the Stevenson brothers, John and Hugh, in 1793. The brothers acquired the island of Belnahua to quarry slate and laid out what is now Oban, building a brewery at its center. By 1794, distillation was taking place, with official records dating back to 1799.
The distillery remained under the Stevenson family until 1866 when it was sold to local businessman Peter Cumstie, followed by John Walter Higgin in 1883. Higgin rebuilt the distillery during his ownership, creating the design still visible today. Oban’s reputation grew, but transport challenges made accessing its primary market in Glasgow difficult. The arrival of the Glasgow railway in 1888 proved transformative, facilitating the whisky’s distribution.
In 1898, Higgin sold the distillery to Alexander Edward, who retained ownership until 1930, when it was acquired by DCL (now Diageo). By the 1960s, Oban’s small size made it vulnerable during an industry expansion phase. In 1968, DCL announced its closure but reversed the decision, constructing the current still house in 1972.
Oban’s prominence in the single malt category began in 1979 with the release of a 12-year-old expression, which was relaunched in 1989 as a 14-year-old when it joined the Classic Malts Selection. This marked the start of its significant following, particularly in the US market.
Today, Oban welcomes over 35,000 visitors annually—a remarkable feat for a distillery with just two stills.
