Oban is a West Highland single malt 📝Scotch Whisky produced at the Oban Distillery in the west coast port town of Oban, Scotland, and owned by Diageo.
The distillery was established in 1794 by the brothers John and Hugh Stevenson, who ran it until 1866. With only two pot stills, it is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland, and its whisky is described as carrying a distinctly "West Highland" character.
Oban is one of Diageo's six Classic Malts, the portfolio that showcases a regional style of Scotch, and its 14-year expression is the core release. Some sources describe it as Diageo's best-selling single malt in the United States.
I first got it as a happy accident: a bartender at the Orpheum Theatre poured me a top-shelf Oban on a token meant for Johnnie Walker before 📝Daniel Sloss's show. It lands in the middle-top of my Scotch hierarchy.