Oban
In the picturesque harbor town of Oban you will find one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland , which is also one of the smallest in the country. On a tour of the Oban Distillery you can experience first-hand how whisky is made - afterwards you have the opportunity to try a Highland malt yourself.
In Oban you are right on the water and can take a stroll along the harbor to admire the Roman-style architecture of the city. Before your delicious whisky tasting, explore the western highlands and the fascinating flora and fauna of Scotland. The lively city of Oban with its ferry pier is an ideal starting point for trips to the Inner and Outer Hebrides.
Distillery Factsheet
| Name | Pronounced | AKA | Region | Country of Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oban | Highlands | Scotland | ||
| Status | Active | Whisky Type | Website | Tours Available |
| Active | 1794 - Present | Malt | Oban | Not Available |
| Manager | Distiller | Blender | Owned by | Parent Group |
| Dr Matthew Crow; Dr Craig Wilson | Diageo |
Oban Timeline:
1794: Said to have been founded by Hugh, John & James Stevenson & Co. hiring an experienced Lowland distiller to manage the whole operation
1797-98: Hugh, John & James Stevenson & Co.
1818: Revived
1824-29: Thomas Stevenson when bankrupt
1829-52: John Stevenson
1860-77: Robert Walker
1866: Change of ownership from the Stevenson family to ...
1878-83: William Gillies, when purchased by James Walter Higgin and rebuilt
1883: Acquired by J. Walter Higgin
< 1887: Two new warehouses were built
1890-1894: The distillery was rebuilt. The number of tuns was increased from 5 to 8
1898: Acquired by the Oban & Aultmore-Glenlivet Distilleries Ltd. from Higgin
1923: Oban & Aultmore-Glenlivet Distilleries Ltd. sold the distillery to the Oban Distillery Co. Ltd., subsidiary of John Dewar & Sons Ltd.
1925: Passed to the Distillers Company Ltd. (DCL)
1930: Transferred to Scottish Malt Distillers Ltd. (SMD)
1931-37: Distillery went silent
1969-72: Distillery went silent when a new still house was built with two stills in it
1972: Stills became steamheated
1989: Visitor centre opened in old maltings
1990: Selected for promotion as a Classic Malt
1992: Licensed to John Hopkins & Co. Ltd.
1999: Owned by United Distillers & Vintners (UDV)
2004: Owned by Diageo plc