Whisk Yourself Away to Oban - A Day in the Life at the Distillery and Beyond
There’s plenty we can tell you about Oban - and we’re glad to. We’re glad to share facts about how the site, founded in 1794, has never moved and remains just 208 steps from the sea - something which informs and inspires its rugged, coastal flavour. Or that it’s one of the smallest distilleries in all of Scotland. Or that Oban's whisky is made using only the finest barley, malted to the distillery's particular specification, and finally distilled using lamp glass-shaped stills.
And we’re delighted when we can let you in on a little secret so you look whisky-wise and full of knowledge, things like you actually pronounce the brand as Oh-bin. And it’s our genuine pleasure to talk all things taste - from the sensory splash of sea salt that awakens the taste of Oban 14 to the rich peat of Oban 18.
But, alas, there are times where words fail.
We can talk about the sumptuous sup in every sip of the whisky. But you have to taste it for yourself to really savour every flavour. We can tell you little facts about what goes into every bottle, but you have to be the one to start experiencing the centuries of tradition that make this small-but-mighty expression so exceptional. And we can talk about the treasures this little pocket of the Highlands holds, but we can’t bring Oban to you. Until now.
While nothing compares to being there - and a visit to the Oban distillery is no doubt high on your to-do list (and if it isn’t, bump something. Believe us, it’ll feel so insignificant when you’re standing before Oban Bay) - we’ve got the next best thing.
With exclusive access to the people who make the Oban distillery what it is, whet your whistle with a teasing taste of what life in the Gateway to the Isles is like - and just how important every ingredient is to making the distillery one of the world’s finest.
Offering unique access behind the scenes of one of Scotland’s most storied and iconic distilleries, we spoke with two of the individuals whose very jobs revolve around making sure visitors leave with a love for the region - and the whisky - that rivals even their own.
We had time to chat to Brand Home Lead Guide Callum Hamilton - someone who took an unexpected path, having a background in veterinary medicine but has no plans to leave the world of whisky any time soon - and Lesley Christie, the Assistant Experience and Events Manager who helps make a visit to Oban distillery a one-of-a-kind memory.
Imagine you are sitting down in front of a blazing fire, watching a beautiful sunset over the Oban Bay. That is Oban 14.
-Lesley Christie, distillery experience manager
When is the best time to visit Oban?
Well, there’s never exactly a bad time to visit somewhere that boasts 13th century castles, some of the finest, freshest seafood, stretches of unspoiled nature, and one of Scotland’s most immersive distilleries.
And for their part, as part of Callum and his team’s job, they work year round to produce “new experiences which really allow people to feel the age and history of the distillery.” No resting on laurels here.
But there are some highlights that still inspire and amaze those who call Oban home.
Scotland in winter might be bracing, but it’s also worth braving. Not least for the myriad of merry activities that take place in Oban. Lesley shared, “We have lots of special events throughout the year but a particular favourite of mine is Winterfest. Every year Oban Distillery plays host to a fabulous Christmas Market. There are lots of exciting stalls, selling everything from beautiful handmade jewellery to locally caught oysters.”
Callum added, “We host the Scottish haggis championships each November in one of our warehouses - a Scotsman with haggis and whisky? Need I say more!”
If you’re looking for an authentic Scottish experience, with whisky at the core, you cannot ask for more than that.
What should anyone know before booking?
What they both touched on was the importance of planning in advance. It may be a small town and an even smaller distillery, but the demand is huge.
Callum explains, “In our summer season, we do tours every half an hour, and on busy days, we can have up to 15 experiences running a day” and Lesley urges everyone to book ahead especially in the summer months, when tours book up well in advance.
What are some standout memories from the distillery?
Proof that a trip to Oban is entry into a world that doesn’t stress the small things, Lesley recalls moments where things going wrong have felt so right for the relaxed and welcoming nature.
“We mill malted barley here on site to make “grist” which is used early on in the production of our spirit. While taking visitors around the distillery we take guests into the mill room and one of the props we use to explain the process is a jar full of grist. Recently the lid of the jar broke and one of our managers, Tony, was taking visitors round and not realising there was no lid on the jar, decided to give it a good shake… you can imagine the rest! Thankfully Tony is a good sport…”
A distillery tour with rich history and a bit of slapstick comedy? It’s got it all.
For Callum - who, himself, didn’t come from a background in whisky - he loves that the visitors come from all walks of life, having hosted everyone from Clipper yacht races to world class rugby professionals. You don’t necessarily need to have an A-Z knowledge of all things whisky to have an enriching experience.
How does Oban's location inspire the taste of its whisky?
From experiencing the flavour journeys to exploring the legacy, the distillery and the whisky is integral to the spirit of Oban - so it’s no surprise that you really can feel the influence in every drop.
As Lesley explained, “We always say Oban whisky is for drinking. Although some whiskies are considered worth collecting and we do have some exclusives that are sometimes bought in pairs (one for drinking and one to keep!) our signature whisky, the Oban 14, is definitely one that deserves to be drunk.”
Need more? Well. She couldn’t have painted a clearer picture.
“Imagine you are sitting down in front of a blazing fire, watching a beautiful sunset over the Oban Bay. That is Oban 14. It is redolent of the richness and beauty in the surrounding landscape and of the warmth and welcome you get from the local people. No matter where you are in the world, close your eyes, take a sip, and you will be immediately transported back to our shores.”
Interested in the day-to-day goings on of working at a distillery?
Immerse yourself in Lesley and Callum's in-depth reflections on their time so far at Oban.
Lesley, Assistant Experience and Events Manager at Oban Distillery
Read Lesley's answers in full for a deeper dive on just what goes into bringing the Oban distillery to life, with its highly-rated experiences and more.
Every day is different at the Oban Brand Home. Our job is all about ensuring the best possible experiences for visitors to the Distillery. As well as showing off the production side of the Distillery, we also spend time in the shop helping visitors chose the right whisky for them. We work closely as a team, making sure that the tour route around the Distillery is tidied up between tours, replenishing the stock in the shop and keeping the bar tidy and well stocked, so that visitors get the most from their visit with us.
Maybe it is because visiting a distillery is a fun thing to do… but everyone who visits us is in their happy place, so we always have great fun at work! We meet wonderful people from all over the world and it is a real privilege to be able to show off our fantastic Distillery to visitors who have come from near and far to experience the very best of Oban. As I studied French I especially love being able to talk to chat to our guests in their native tongue!
We have lots of special events throughout the year but a particular favourite of mine is “Winterfest”. Every year Oban Distillery plays host to a fabulous Christmas Market. There are lots of exciting stalls, selling everything from beautiful handmade jewellery to locally caught oysters. There is also a fantastic haggis competition, where butchers from across Scotland and beyond put their haggis recipes to a public vote. Whisky and haggis are a great match, so what better venue for a haggis competition than a distillery. Yum!
Because the Oban distillery is so popular we book up really quickly at the height of the season and therefore cannot accommodate people who haven’t pre-booked. Telling visitors that the tours are all fully booked can be difficult, as we hate to disappoint people… especially when some of our visitors have travelled really far! This year we are hoping to extend our opening hours to allow us to up our capacity for guided tours, which would be great news.
We mill malted barley here on site to make “grist” which is used early on in the production of our spirit. While taking visitors around the Distillery we take guests into the Mill Room and one of the props we use to explain the process is a jar full of grist, which essentially just looks like a very roughly ground wholemeal flour. Recently the lid of the jar broke and one of our Managers, Tony, was taking visitors round and not realising there was no lid on the jar, decided to give it a good shake… you can imagine the rest! Thankfully Tony is a good sport…
We always say Oban whisky is for drinking. Although some whiskies are considered worth collecting and we do have some exclusives that are sometimes bought in pairs (one for drinking and one to keep!) our signature whisky, the Oban 14, is definitely one that deserves to be drunk.
Imagine you are sitting down in front of a blazing fire, watching a beautiful sunset over the Oban Bay. That is Oban 14. It is redolent of the richness and beauty in the surrounding landscape and of the warmth and welcome you get from the local people. No matter where you are in the world, close your eyes, take a sip, and you will be immediately transported back to our shores.
Callum, Brand Home Lead Guide at Oban Distillery
Enjoy Callum's reflections on life at Oban, including where he loves to enjoy a dram of Oban 14.
We meet in the morning as a team to have an operational rundown of the day and celebrate our success'. From there, we will prepare the distillery to receive tours and exclusive experiences before we open our doors and welcome any who walk in. No two days are the same, and that is what is so fantastic - everyone through our door is a friend of the distillery and we want to make each day as good as it can and be proud of what we do! A key part of this is designing and completing new experiences, but glamour is only one part of the job. We have compliance tasks to complete each week to ensure we are producing our whisky and experiences safely and responsibly - something we take very seriously.
There are so many highlights. Recently, hosting a lot of the Clipper round the world yacht race events was really fun and allowed us to do things differently to normal. More recently, we have planned and launched some new experiences which really allow people to feel the age and history of the distillery, and I am really excited for everyone to see what we have been working really hard on. We also host the Scottish haggis championships each November in one of our warehouses - a Scotsman with haggis and whisky? Need I say more!
We have had Sir Robin Knox in as part of the Clipper tours, he was really interesting to talk to. We have also had the parents of Scotland rugby's latest super star, Tom Jordan, in the day before his first test and they chose to spend their special day with us. To feel their pride for their son shared with our whisky was really special, and reminds me of the really important things in life.
Fatigue! In our summer season, we do tours every half an hour, and on busy days, we can have up to 15 experiences running a day. Keeping on top of our wellbeing and looking after each other is what we do really well, and if we see anyone tired or struggling, we help them out and give them some rest. We pour our heart and soul into everything we do, and we wouldn't want to I've anything less so being well rested allows us to bring our best every day.
The people of Oban are quiet, respectful and very very friendly. This comes across excellently in our whisky - a gentle hint of peat smoke to remind us of home, a whisper of citrus nods to our zest for life, deep honeyed flavours underline our sweet, approachable warmth and a dash of salinity highlights our coastal roots. Theres nothing in this world quite like an Oban 14 enjoyed under the Inner Hebridean skies.
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