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I'm not going to lie, I don't like whisky. Will I order a cocktail that has it? Sure. But drink it straight up? NO WAY! However, this distillery has been around for hundreds of years and is one of those "you should do this here" things on a bucket list. Also, if I had to drag my mans to my fave (and def not his), a gin distillery, it's only fair I take him to what he likes, a whisky distillery. Walking in, we checked in with the host stand and were guided upstairs to the tour launch point. Everything is labelled for ease and there are a lot of chairs and couches to wait at if you're early and done looking at the gift shop. There is also a bar up here where you can do some tastings. Our guide, whose name I cannot remember because I'm one of those people (I think it was Jonathan, he was an Englishman), was amazing. Such a great personality to not only teach us but to entertain us as well. He had a good rapport with us and it felt so natural to talk with him. The tour itself is very interesting and informative. I'm shocked at how up close and personal you can get with some of the machinery here. This tour is super intimate and well worth more than what we paid for. Another highlight? Turns out I do like whisky. Oban Whisky. It's the only whisky I've ever tried that I can just drink straight and not be disgusted by. I was shocked when I took our first sip before we entered the working part of the distillery and I was shocked again when we had another taste of a different expression. This whisky tastes smooth and delicious and you can actually taste all of the flavor points they describe. Wild! My only wish was that I could have brought some home but they don't do mini bottles. Oh well, thank goodness Total Wine stocks it.
It's funny how you can visit a place so so many times but never end up doing certain things. I've been to Oban many of times as we have family there. And of course, everyone tends to know each other. I've talked about this place numerous of times mentioning how I've never been before. Clearly, it was time to make a visit. They do offer the tour but we just opted for a tasting ourselves. Once your inside, we were early as the tasting room wasn't open just yet. The main room, which is their retail room offers pretty much an array of whiskeys and souvenirs galore. The selection you have to choose from were amazing. We did have about 15 min to spare till the tasting room Opened up. The different selections of whiskey for each liking was astounding. There's a bottle for everyone's liking. I don't quite remember how much the tasting was but we just shared one. There was four pours, which was plenty for us. Different selections but we opted for the main Oban one. I'm not much of something that was too peaty. Out of the four, three made the cut for liking. One in particular. The staff was friendly and very knowledgeable about their stuff. During the tasting, a tour was going on as well. It's a must to do if you're ever in Oban.
The store was great. It was clean, and fully stocked. The workers were knowledgeable & helpful. If you go, I'd suggest to buy the bottles that are only sold at that distillery. I only got 1, and that was my mistake. I wish I booked a tour in advance, because they were sold out when we visited.
NOTE: Hours are seasonal so Yelp may not always be correct. Check the timetable posted on the front entrance. Tour times are limited, so our group was only able to go upstairs to do a Scotch tasting. There's a nice bar area with tables to sit at and relax with your tasting flight. Our service upstairs was excellent. I did the £20 flight of Oban's house Scotches only. Sounds pretty obvious, but they have several non-Oban Scotches to try because they are all part of Diageo's portfolio. Yes, Oban is owned by a multinational conglomerate called Diageo that owns Lagavulin, Johnnie Walker, Caol Ila, Talisker, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, and several more distilleries. After sampling all they had to offer, I thought the Scotch quality was decent. Everything we tried was a little hot and burning with their best one being the exclusive bottling you can only get at the distillery. In the gift shop below, that bottle was £100, putting in the same price segment as some much better single cask Scotch, so we passed. Also worth noting that regular Oban 14 here costs £48 ($64) vs $54 in the U.S. at Costco. So there's no reason to buy it. Also, Lagavulin 16, another Diageo product sold here, is £57.50 ($76) vs. $60 at Costco. Essentially, there was no incentive to get them.
If its a rainy day, it means most of the outdoor and boat tours are canceled, so get here early to get tour otherwise it'll sell out quick like it did on me. Luckily there is a tasting room where Bill the barmen is a scotch guru will education and guide you through the magical world of scotch. You can try a wide variety of nice scotches for only £3($4.60ish) for a 25ml wee dram tasting...that's really cheap! It would be 2-4 times more expensive anywhere else, not matter what country you're in. Like the other distilleries, they also sell a variety of bottles far much cheaper than the independent whisky shops.
Any trip to Scotland should always include a trip to the Oban Distillery. You can see the city was literally built around this great gem for whiskey lovers. While the tour was not as good as others I had during my trip, who cares when you really just want to get to the end and have your own taste. It's worth the trip, and the city has great flavor all its own as well.
We had such a blast in this distillery. Glad we had booked in advance as there were many customers when we arrived disappointed they couldn't get on a tour. Some had travelled from all over the world to specifically go here and couldn't get on a tour! We were met by an intriguing Venezuelan girl who immediately set the tone for our visit. This very happy lady should of been a comedian instead of a chemical engineer and kept us entertained throughout our visit. Go early before your tour as they have a very cool bar upstairs behind the shop where you can try staves (flights) of Whisky (Scottish spelling). Diageo who own this distillery also own many other distilleries, so you get the benefit of trying many of their products in the bar. We had our first introduction into all the Whisky types from Alenei which was great as we sang along to some cool tunes while we learned the different tastes. When the tour started it was like an interactive lesson in Whisky making. We got to watch some of the operators during the tour while Alenei explained the process. The smells in this place are out of this world as you walk around a distillery that has being doing this since 1794! We got the pleasure of tasting the Whisky a few times in different areas. Sometimes a chemistry lesson, then a history lesson and a drinks experience tasting right from the cask using a large contraption called a "Whisky Thief" for stealing whisky from the cask for those on the tour. We were given a 10% discount on the product in the shop because we had been on the tour. There were a few collectors bottles we made the best of as you can only purchase them in the distillery. Absolutely the highlight of our time in Oban which I now find out is pronounced "Oh - Bin" after mispronouncing my favorite Whisky for years.
13 days ago
We had a wonderful tour with our guide Kevin! It was interesting to see a distillery in the heart of town and learn about how it helped shaped the town. Other than the tour they do offer a nice sit down bar where you can enjoy a dram and relax. There is also a little retail space with some nice gifts and other whiskies besides Oban. I had never had the pleasure of trying Oban whisky and after three other tours before this one it still stands out and was a favorite of mine. The whiskies were smooth, and had some of my favorite tasting notes. Make sure to have this be a stop when your in Oban read more
1 year ago
This was a fun tour and I learned a lot. I don't even like whiskey! I thought it was fairly priced. Each person gets 3 shots of whiskey, but if you ask for the 'cork', you get a small 3-pack of whiskey to take home, which is a great souvenir. They also give you the shot glass you drank your whiskey out of. You get a discount at their shop and we bought some whiskey. The only reason I'm giving this 4 stars is that their website kind of mentions that the tour is disability friendly, when it is not. There are stairs up and down. But they were very good about giving me a last minute refund for the tickets we couldn't use. read more
3 years ago
I'm not going to lie, I don't like whisky. Will I order a cocktail that has it? Sure. But drink it straight up? NO WAY! However, this distillery has been around for hundreds of years and is one of those "you should do this here" things on a bucket list. Also, if I had to drag my mans to my fave (and def not his), a gin distillery, it's only fair I take him to what he likes, a whisky distillery. Walking in, we checked in with the host stand and were guided upstairs to the tour launch point. Everything is labelled for ease and there are a lot of chairs and couches to wait at if you're early and done looking at the gift shop. There is also a bar up here where you can do some tastings. Our guide, whose name I cannot remember because I'm one of those people (I think it was Jonathan, he was an Englishman), was amazing. Such a great personality to not only teach us but to entertain us as well. He had a good rapport with us and it felt so natural to talk with him. The tour itself is very interesting and informative. I'm shocked at how up close and personal you can get with some of the machinery here. This tour is super intimate and well worth more than what we paid for. Another highlight? Turns out I do like whisky. Oban Whisky. It's the only whisky I've ever tried that I can just drink straight and not be disgusted by. I was shocked when I took our first sip before we entered the working part of the distillery and I was shocked again when we had another taste of a different expression. This whisky tastes smooth and delicious and you can actually taste all of the flavor points they describe. Wild! My only wish was that I could have brought some home but they don't do mini bottles. Oh well, thank goodness Total Wine stocks it. read more
Europe 2023 - Oban, Scotland We made a stop in Oban to visit the Oban Distillery. We didn't have any reservations for the tour unfortunately, but we did visit the store and walked up to the bar and got a flight. Definitely worth checking out. read more
It's funny how you can visit a place so so many times but never end up doing certain things. I've been to Oban many of times as we have family there. And of course, everyone tends to know each other. I've talked about this place numerous of times mentioning how I've never been before. Clearly, it was time to make a visit. They do offer the tour but we just opted for a tasting ourselves. Once your inside, we were early as the tasting room wasn't open just yet. The main room, which is their retail room offers pretty much an array of whiskeys and souvenirs galore. The selection you have to choose from were amazing. We did have about 15 min to spare till the tasting room Opened up. The different selections of whiskey for each liking was astounding. There's a bottle for everyone's liking. I don't quite remember how much the tasting was but we just shared one. There was four pours, which was plenty for us. Different selections but we opted for the main Oban one. I'm not much of something that was too peaty. Out of the four, three made the cut for liking. One in particular. The staff was friendly and very knowledgeable about their stuff. During the tasting, a tour was going on as well. It's a must to do if you're ever in Oban. read more
4 years ago
The store was great. It was clean, and fully stocked. The workers were knowledgeable & helpful. If you go, I'd suggest to buy the bottles that are only sold at that distillery. I only got 1, and that was my mistake. I wish I booked a tour in advance, because they were sold out when we visited. read more
2 years ago
We did the whisky tasting and had an amazing time. Mike was very personable and knowledgeable. We learned a ton about one of my favorite whiskies! Highly recommend. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
NOTE: Hours are seasonal so Yelp may not always be correct. Check the timetable posted on the front entrance. Tour times are limited, so our group was only able to go upstairs to do a Scotch tasting. There's a nice bar area with tables to sit at and relax with your tasting flight. Our service upstairs was excellent. I did the £20 flight of Oban's house Scotches only. Sounds pretty obvious, but they have several non-Oban Scotches to try because they are all part of Diageo's portfolio. Yes, Oban is owned by a multinational conglomerate called Diageo that owns Lagavulin, Johnnie Walker, Caol Ila, Talisker, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, and several more distilleries. After sampling all they had to offer, I thought the Scotch quality was decent. Everything we tried was a little hot and burning with their best one being the exclusive bottling you can only get at the distillery. In the gift shop below, that bottle was £100, putting in the same price segment as some much better single cask Scotch, so we passed. Also worth noting that regular Oban 14 here costs £48 ($64) vs $54 in the U.S. at Costco. So there's no reason to buy it. Also, Lagavulin 16, another Diageo product sold here, is £57.50 ($76) vs. $60 at Costco. Essentially, there was no incentive to get them. read more
If its a rainy day, it means most of the outdoor and boat tours are canceled, so get here early to get tour otherwise it'll sell out quick like it did on me. Luckily there is a tasting room where Bill the barmen is a scotch guru will education and guide you through the magical world of scotch. You can try a wide variety of nice scotches for only £3($4.60ish) for a 25ml wee dram tasting...that's really cheap! It would be 2-4 times more expensive anywhere else, not matter what country you're in. Like the other distilleries, they also sell a variety of bottles far much cheaper than the independent whisky shops. read more
Any trip to Scotland should always include a trip to the Oban Distillery. You can see the city was literally built around this great gem for whiskey lovers. While the tour was not as good as others I had during my trip, who cares when you really just want to get to the end and have your own taste. It's worth the trip, and the city has great flavor all its own as well. read more
4 years ago
We had such a blast in this distillery. Glad we had booked in advance as there were many customers when we arrived disappointed they couldn't get on a tour. Some had travelled from all over the world to specifically go here and couldn't get on a tour! We were met by an intriguing Venezuelan girl who immediately set the tone for our visit. This very happy lady should of been a comedian instead of a chemical engineer and kept us entertained throughout our visit. Go early before your tour as they have a very cool bar upstairs behind the shop where you can try staves (flights) of Whisky (Scottish spelling). Diageo who own this distillery also own many other distilleries, so you get the benefit of trying many of their products in the bar. We had our first introduction into all the Whisky types from Alenei which was great as we sang along to some cool tunes while we learned the different tastes. When the tour started it was like an interactive lesson in Whisky making. We got to watch some of the operators during the tour while Alenei explained the process. The smells in this place are out of this world as you walk around a distillery that has being doing this since 1794! We got the pleasure of tasting the Whisky a few times in different areas. Sometimes a chemistry lesson, then a history lesson and a drinks experience tasting right from the cask using a large contraption called a "Whisky Thief" for stealing whisky from the cask for those on the tour. We were given a 10% discount on the product in the shop because we had been on the tour. There were a few collectors bottles we made the best of as you can only purchase them in the distillery. Absolutely the highlight of our time in Oban which I now find out is pronounced "Oh - Bin" after mispronouncing my favorite Whisky for years. read more
4 years ago
This distillery offers tours and has a nice shop downstairs as well as a tasting room upstairs. The tasting room consists of a small bar with multiple Oban samples to purchase (~$4-$15) and a large area describing the Oban method of distillery. Nice atmosphere however, the bar is small and seating can fill up quick. The downstairs portion has the typical distillery souvenirs including hats, shot classes, accessories, and a wide selection of whisky besides Oban. Tip - Don't get fooled by the 'Distiller's Edition'. It can be found outside of the distillery and fairly common. If you're looking to purchase a special bottle, get the limited cask bottle which is offered ONLY at the distillery. Limited to 6,000 bottles though, every bottle is printed '1-6,000'. These is no individual numbering on the bottle and it's ~90 Sterling pounds. Definitely worth a visit if your in the area. read more
6 years ago
7 years ago
8 years ago
13 years ago
6 years ago
8 years ago
Didn't do the full tour but fully enjoyed the visitor centre and tasting room upstairs, all clearly quite newly refurbished. If you choose not to do the tour, you can still go upstairs and try some of the whisky - not only do they have Oban but several others as well. I went for the stave - a taste of 4 whiskies for £10. The gentleman behind the bar informed me that you could only taste 20ml at a time at the bar and each pour for the tasting was 10ml - so I had to do the tasting at one of the adjacent tables. No worries. Tried a few of the Oban distiller's select bottles, the Little Bay and the Oban 14. The latter sat the best with me. Rich on the nose, spicy but quite smooth and not too sweet. It seemed the most palatable to be enjoyed with an ice cube in a glass. The limited edition ones were on the sweet side for me, would've preferred smokier. Stop one on the scotch whisky tour...check! This distillery is beautiful and the history behind Oban and its proximity to the water is great. read more
7 years ago
8 years ago
10 years ago
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