Old Photograph Stafford Street Oban Scotland

Old photograph of people, shops, buildings and whisky distillery on Stafford Street in Oban, in the Western Highlands of Scotland. 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, Edinburgh, 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. It is now owned by Diageo. It has only two pot stills, making it one of the smallest in Scotland, producing a whisky that has been described as having a " West Highland " flavour that falls between the dry, smoky style of the Scottish islands and the lighter, sweeter malts of the Highlands. The Oban Distillery is primarily known for its 14 year old malt, which is marketed as part of Diageo's "Classic Malts Selection" range, launched in 1988. Also available is a " Distiller's Edition " bottling, which is finished in a Montilla Fino sherry cask before bottling. There is also an 18 year old limited edition and a rare 32 year old edition. In December 2014 Oban introduced a NAS, non age statement, bottling, called Oban " Little Bay ".



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.