The Whiskyphiles

Oban

oban-distillery
Oban-14-year-old

History The distillery was built in 1794 by the brothers John and Hugh Stevenson and operated by them until 1866, when it was bought by Peter Curnstie. It was then acquired by Walter Higgin in 1883 and rebuilt. In 1898, Alexander Edward, who also owned Aultmore Distillery, bought out Higgin. In its first year of operation, it suffered major losses when a major blending company, Pattison’s of Leith, went under. In 1923, Oban was sold to Dewars and joined Distillers Company with that company in 1925. It fell silent from 1931 until 1937 and again from 1969 to 1972 when a new still house was built. In 1989 a new visitors’ centre was installed.

The Whiskyphiles tasting notes

Official Bottling
  • Oban-14-year-old Oban 14 Years Old (2013) – Oban 14 Years Old (40%, OB, 2013) 40% ABV, £40 for 70cl Score 68/100 What they say: Part of Diageo’s ‘Classic Malts Range’ launched in 1988. The 14 years old is the basic expression out of the Oban distillery established in 1794 and stimulating the town which sprung up around the distillery and harbour and […]
  • Oban_1998_DistEd Oban 1998 Distillers Edition (2014) – Oban Distillers Edition 1998 Montilla Fino Finish (43%, OB, OD 162.FX, 2013) 43% ABV, £65 for 70cl Score: 80/100 What they say: Each Distillers Edition expression undergoes a second (or ‘double’) maturation in casks that have previously held a fortified wine. The founders of Oban distillery were entrepreneurs who imported and exported goods for which […]
  • oban-2001-bottled-2016-montilla-fino-cask-finish-distillers-edition-whisky Oban 2001 Distillers Edition (2018) – Oban 2001 Distillers Edition Highland single malt Scotch whisky review: I enjoyed this a little bit more than the last DE sampled (1998-2013), this had a sharpness or clarity throughout and the cleanliness of white grape with a touch of salt which added to the overall more pleasing presentation of this vintage. 83/100
  • oban-2003-bottled-2017-montilla-fino-cask-finish-distillers-edition-whisky Oban 2003 Distillers Edition (2018) – Oban 2003 Distillers Edition Highland single malt Scotch whisky review: Quite a different dram to the 2001 DE, cleaner and crisper in the nose and palate but much more sour. Not like the sweetness of the 2001 DE and for that I liked it a lot less. I felt this had more spirit character and less influence from the finishing casks perhaps? 80/100