Oban Distillery
One of Scotland's oldest and smallest distilleries, founded in 1794 in the middle of Oban, with a shop and a bar.
Oban Distillery stands in the middle of the town, at the heart of the horseshoe harbour, and it is older than the town around it.
Visited and photographed by Jack Cairney
It was founded in 1794, when Oban was still a small fishing village, and the streets grew up about it; its tall chimney still rises among the houses above the bay. It is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland and one of the smallest, with just two pot stills, and its malts, among them the 14 Year Old and the Distillers Edition, are known far beyond the west coast.
The distillery shop is open daily from 10am to 7pm and the Wee Still Bar from 10am to 6pm. Production is paused for now and the tour programme is being reviewed, though the areas the tour usually covers remain open to visitors, so check what is running before you go.
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The shop is open daily 10am to 7pm and the Wee Still Bar 10am to 6pm.
Production is paused and tours are under review; check before you go.
- Shop
- Daily 10:00 to 19:00.
- Bar
- Daily 10:00 to 18:00.
- Tours
- Under review; check before going.
Opening hours
- Monday
- 10am–7pm
- Tuesday
- 10am–7pm
- Wednesday
- 10am–7pm
- Thursday
- 10am–7pm
- Friday
- 10am–7pm
- Saturday
- 10am–7pm
- Sunday
- 10am–7pm
Been here? Tell others what you know, and the best go on this page with your name.
Add your reviewThe centre of Oban, by the harbour.
Hinba, ObanUnder a mile 1 min by road
Cuan Mor, ObanAn all-day bar and restaurant on George Street looking over Oban Bay, built from Ballachulish slate and old pier timber.Under a mile 1 min by road
Passing Place GalleryA new gallery and meeting place on George Street in Oban, opened in 2026, with exhibitions about place and belonging.Under a mile 1 min by road
The Oban InnUnder a mile 1 min by road
ObanThe west coast's busy little capital on a horseshoe bay, the Gateway to the Isles, with McCaig's Tower above it.Under a mile 2 min by road
McCaig's TowerThe granite ring on the hill above Oban, a banker's monument left unfinished in 1902, now a garden with views to Mull.Under a mile 3 min by road
Places to stay near the distillery, and when each is next free.
The Drury- Sleeps 22
- In Oban
- Under a mile from the distillery
Glencruitten House- To stay
- In Oban
- A mile from the distillery
Uisge Bothy- Sleeps 2
- In Oban
- 4 miles from the distillery
Beatha- Sleeps 2
- In Oban
- 4 miles from the distillery
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What we have written about it, the collections it is in and more in Argyll and Bute.
For further reading, before you go. The details on this page were checked on .