Oban Distillery
Oban Distillery
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Take a peek at the ins and outs of our working distillery. From the close sea location to the complex whisky making process, book your tour online at Oban Distillery today. We can’t wait to welcome you.
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The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
73 within 3 miles
Attractions
25 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Sheila K1 contributionExcellent toutThis is a fantastic tour lead by a knowledgeable and engaging guide. The compact nature of the distillery saves time travelling round the site. The tour is good value as it includes 3 nips if whisky and a nip glass.Visited October 2023Traveled with friendsWritten October 3, 2023
- Joshua W1 contributionExceptional distillery tour!The Oban distillery tour was amazing! Ian was a great host and did an excellent job of explaining the process! Mike regaled us with stories about how Glasgow is the second best city in Scotland only surpassed by Oban! 100% recommend!Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 3, 2023
- 578travelgirlHuntsville, Alabama21 contributionsFun Distillery TourThe distillery tour was very interesting and a lot of fun. Our guides were Kate and Mark, they did a fantastic job. We got to taste three of the different whiskeys and they gave us our shot glass as a souvenir. I definitely recommend this! Oban is an adorable town and I highly recommend visiting if you get a chance!Visited October 2023Traveled with friendsWritten October 4, 2023
- Gary H8 contributionsAn Oban must do. Ask for Eve’s tour.Eve was great, Very informative and fun presentation. She gave a detailed explanation of the whiskey making process from grain to bottle which was easy to understand with some amazing number facts. Definitely worth a visit. A little expensive at £22 each for one hour tour but you do get three “wee drams” and you get to keep the tasting glass which is a nice touch. You also get 10% off all shop purchases which is great!Visited October 2023Traveled soloWritten October 5, 2023
- Steven H2 contributionsA Must DoUliana was a wonderful and very knowledgeable tour guide. The hour just flew by. Tasted 3 wonderful whiskies and given a free whisky glass as a souvenir. Spent over £260 in the shop on whisky which included a discount of almost £30 just for taking the tour! This more than covered the price of the tour. Will be doing this again the next time I'm in Oban Steve EdinburghVisited October 2023Traveled soloWritten October 6, 2023
- KATHY KOakland, California66 contributionsGreat little distilleryThis was our favorite distillery tour out of the 3 we did in Scotland. The guide was informative and engaging with a good sense of humor. Plus, the whisky is very good. The history of this small distillery and its efforts to be environmentally smart is of note.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 7, 2023
- Taylor M2 contributionsFirst thing I'm booking next time I'm in ObanMy wife and I have done distillery tours all around the world and found this one to be particularly enjoyable. It was efficient, clean, and they didn't wait till the end to let us taste samples (which were really excellent!). Our guide, Mike, was incredibly friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable. You can tell just how passionate he and his colleagues are about what they do and where they live. Can't recommend it enough! Book in advance, they do fill up quickly.Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 9, 2023
- BellGellSydney, Australia47 contributionsFantastic Whisky Experience!We thoroughly enjoyed the whisky tour at Oban Distillery. Kate our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and gave us a fantastic insight into the whisky making process. Tasting the whisky while getting an understanding into how it gets its flavour was very enjoyable. We highly recommend this tour!Visited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 11, 2023
- rachaelmallenChicago, Illinois5 contributionsIan was a gem!Great tasting experience! Ian was incredibly informative and provided great guidance as we walked through the tasting lineup. Would recommend this experience to anyone who will be in the area. As a side note, Joyce should be really proud of her son Ian, he was a fanatic host and true gentleman.Visited October 2023Traveled with familyWritten October 12, 2023
- Flyer78831911 contributionsGreat visit to Oban Distillery - even for non whisky drinkdersOur guide Ian, was passionate and very knowledgeable about the history and process with Oban. He took the time to highlight the sustainability efforts also which were impressive. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in how high quality and historic whisky is madeVisited October 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 14, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
4,641 reviews
Excellent
3,621
Very good
804
Average
146
Poor
32
Terrible
39
Hilary G
7 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We enjoyed the cask tasting experience and (reduced) tour of the cask room this summer. Our guide, Jim, was knowledgeable and friendly, and began the tour by explaining the whisky making process over a taste of their Oban 14. After this we made our way across to the cask room where we enjoyed a taste straight from a cask before making our way back to the main building to learn about how different areas of Scotland make their whisky and the different flavors, intensities etc. This part was great for me, as a “novice” whisky drinker as it helped me to identify drinks that I would enjoy. Jim clearly has a love of whisky, which was apparent throughout the tour as he gave recommendations and was so knowledgeable about the history of the distillery and local area.
COVID-19 Health & Safety Measures
The tour was much smaller in comparison to past experiences, which given the current situation was ideal and made for a much more intimate and personal experience. Our tour consisted of my partner and I, and one other couple.
Before entering the building, we donned our masks, used the sanitizer which was provided and had our temperature taken by a machine at the door (waved our wrists at the sensor). Inside the building they have screens at cash desks and the bar, sanitizer stations throughout and a one way system. Jim explained that the maximum capacity of the bar was limited to 16 across 4 socially distanced tables.
During the tour we were asked to provide contact details, which is now the norm, for test and trace purposes.
The gift shop, which is also their entry point, was well run (and had a wide selection of whisky and merchandise) and again had limited number of people allowed in at a time, which the staff communicated well.
We felt safe throughout the duration of the tour and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to whisky lovers and novices alike!
COVID-19 Health & Safety Measures
The tour was much smaller in comparison to past experiences, which given the current situation was ideal and made for a much more intimate and personal experience. Our tour consisted of my partner and I, and one other couple.
Before entering the building, we donned our masks, used the sanitizer which was provided and had our temperature taken by a machine at the door (waved our wrists at the sensor). Inside the building they have screens at cash desks and the bar, sanitizer stations throughout and a one way system. Jim explained that the maximum capacity of the bar was limited to 16 across 4 socially distanced tables.
During the tour we were asked to provide contact details, which is now the norm, for test and trace purposes.
The gift shop, which is also their entry point, was well run (and had a wide selection of whisky and merchandise) and again had limited number of people allowed in at a time, which the staff communicated well.
We felt safe throughout the duration of the tour and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to whisky lovers and novices alike!
Written August 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claire L
London, UK2 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Visited Oban Distillery on the 3rd January for something to do and would highly recommend anyone to visit even if you are not a whiskey enthusiast. Mike was incredibly engaging and made the whiskey making process & history of the distillery interesting even to me who doesn’t like the drink.
The tour doesn’t drag either like so many do, show your support to this distillery, you won’t regret it.
The tour doesn’t drag either like so many do, show your support to this distillery, you won’t regret it.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ted T
East Kilbride, UK1 contribution
Feb 2020
I've been on a few different distillery tours and whisky tasting sessions but this one topped the lot. Kyle was ridiculously knowledgable and engaging, and his passion for both his job and the subject was clear from the start. The information we were given was interesting, well-presented and delivered in a great atmosphere. If you like whisky, or even just want to give it a try, I definitely recommend the tour - it is well worth the entrance fee. Oh, and the Oban 14 is an absolutely stellar whisky!
Written March 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Judi4jam
Somerset, UK31 contributions
Nov 2020
Despite not being able to tour the distillery due to current restrictions we enjoyed an informative and amusing talk from Jimmy, along with 4 samples,and glasses, to take home and taste.
There were just 4 people present, tables were very well spaced and lots of Covid precautions, including temperature check. Don’t hesitate to visit, and if you decide to buy a bottle you do get a discount.
Non-drinkers get a discounted ticket at £6, otherwise it’s £17, but actually it was worth it, as one of the whiskies you get to taste retails at £100 per bottle!
There were just 4 people present, tables were very well spaced and lots of Covid precautions, including temperature check. Don’t hesitate to visit, and if you decide to buy a bottle you do get a discount.
Non-drinkers get a discounted ticket at £6, otherwise it’s £17, but actually it was worth it, as one of the whiskies you get to taste retails at £100 per bottle!
Written November 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael J
32 contributions
Mar 2020
Our foursome was very fortunate to be able to be part of the last tour of Oban Distillery on 16 March 2020 before COVID-19 temporarily shut them down. We were two Americans and two Brits who had flown to Edinburgh, rented a car, and then took a scenic drive in the Scottish Highlands from Loch Lomond to Oban to Glencoe to Stirling over three days and two nights. As a whisk(e)y connoisseur, I was particularly excited about visiting Oban. Our tour guide Gus did a masterful job of educating us on whisky and the distillery's craft, all the while being engaging, entertaining, and very pleasant. The lobby gift shop is wonderful, the second floor bar an amazing place to enjoy your tipple, and the entire experience was first-rate. Gus made us feel welcome and couldn't have been a finer guide.
Written April 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dan O
Stoke-on-Trent, UK21 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
This was the last distillery we have visited on our trip around the west coast of Scotland. Oban is one I have wanted to visit for a long time and was delighted to see it would be open for our visit to this nice little seaside town.
Good points
They have passed on the VAT reduction to the customer, so our £20 each tasting cost £17.50 each.
You get 4 good measure drams of the 14yr old, distillers edition, little bay and a distillery exclusive. For the price this is a really good range of drams.
The tasting room was well set out and provided a nice atmosphere for sampling single malt, in a safe environment.
Gus did a good job of describing the production of the whisky.
£5 discount and free glass on any bottle purchased on the tasting.
Bad points
The whole experience took less than 30 minutes. I understand in Covid19 times they have to deep clean between tastings, however with not being able to do a tour I think they should make a bit more of an effort on the tasting. The guide could have taken more feedback from guests and allowed more time for questions. (Obviously this is not the guide’s fault, he will be following company instruction and timing)
Sadly Gus gave no instruction on nosing a whisky, which is key to unlocking the flavours of a good malt. Unfortunately there was a slightly patronising remark about ladies not being able to drink whisky, let me assure you I know plenty of ladies who can appreciate a good dram, especially my wife!
There seemed to be an over emphasis on trying to sell you a bottle, rather than giving some further in depth details behind the distillery and it’s history.
Overall it was a good experience, and of course COVID has had a massive impact on what they can do. However just allow a little more time to
Savour the drams and enjoy the experience would’ve made this a higher rated review.
Please try to consider the more diehard whisky fans and offer a slightly more in depth and exclusive experience for them.
Good points
They have passed on the VAT reduction to the customer, so our £20 each tasting cost £17.50 each.
You get 4 good measure drams of the 14yr old, distillers edition, little bay and a distillery exclusive. For the price this is a really good range of drams.
The tasting room was well set out and provided a nice atmosphere for sampling single malt, in a safe environment.
Gus did a good job of describing the production of the whisky.
£5 discount and free glass on any bottle purchased on the tasting.
Bad points
The whole experience took less than 30 minutes. I understand in Covid19 times they have to deep clean between tastings, however with not being able to do a tour I think they should make a bit more of an effort on the tasting. The guide could have taken more feedback from guests and allowed more time for questions. (Obviously this is not the guide’s fault, he will be following company instruction and timing)
Sadly Gus gave no instruction on nosing a whisky, which is key to unlocking the flavours of a good malt. Unfortunately there was a slightly patronising remark about ladies not being able to drink whisky, let me assure you I know plenty of ladies who can appreciate a good dram, especially my wife!
There seemed to be an over emphasis on trying to sell you a bottle, rather than giving some further in depth details behind the distillery and it’s history.
Overall it was a good experience, and of course COVID has had a massive impact on what they can do. However just allow a little more time to
Savour the drams and enjoy the experience would’ve made this a higher rated review.
Please try to consider the more diehard whisky fans and offer a slightly more in depth and exclusive experience for them.
Written August 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah Leonard
Liverpool, UK2 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
We visited the Oban distillery this week whilst visiting Scotland for a few days and 100% recommended booking an experience here!
We booked the Cask Signature Experience and was greeted by Mike on arrival.
Mike was brilliant in explaining the whole journey of how Oban whiskey is made, showing his depth of knowledge of the process, there was no question he could not answer!
After enjoying a drop of 14 year aged Oban, we then got to try a sample straight from a cask, as well as leaving with our own Oban whiskey glass each.
Thanks Mike for a great tour! We will be back when we visit Oban again.
We booked the Cask Signature Experience and was greeted by Mike on arrival.
Mike was brilliant in explaining the whole journey of how Oban whiskey is made, showing his depth of knowledge of the process, there was no question he could not answer!
After enjoying a drop of 14 year aged Oban, we then got to try a sample straight from a cask, as well as leaving with our own Oban whiskey glass each.
Thanks Mike for a great tour! We will be back when we visit Oban again.
Written August 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HGADavies
Truro, UK47 contributions
Jul 2021 • Couples
This mini taste-tour was a delight from start to finish.
With the distillery very much at the centre of beautiful Oban there's not far to travel to get to the front door.
Once there you'll be greeted like an old friend and safely conveyed inside and upstairs for the tastings and talk-through.
We were looked after by Kerry and Mike who gave a very entertaining presentation and tasting notes on the 4 whiskies on the staves in front of us.
The whisky is incredible and the opportunity to purchase a bottle or two at a discounted price is the icing on the cake. It's also one of those tours where you walk out feeling like a bit of an expert.
Highly recommended and I look forward to getting back there one day.
With the distillery very much at the centre of beautiful Oban there's not far to travel to get to the front door.
Once there you'll be greeted like an old friend and safely conveyed inside and upstairs for the tastings and talk-through.
We were looked after by Kerry and Mike who gave a very entertaining presentation and tasting notes on the 4 whiskies on the staves in front of us.
The whisky is incredible and the opportunity to purchase a bottle or two at a discounted price is the icing on the cake. It's also one of those tours where you walk out feeling like a bit of an expert.
Highly recommended and I look forward to getting back there one day.
Written July 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Foggie
1 contribution
Sep 2020 • Couples
At the hight of all the COVID measures, the team at Oban have done an amazing job in bringing to the front a tasting experience to fill the void when tours are still not possible. Utilising their charasmatic tour guides, to deliver the whiskies story, each imparting their own personal twist and humour is just the treat for stepping away from the pandemic blues. For 40 minutes we were treated to stories and anecdotes, while sipping away on some of the finest drams the distillery has to offer. And as for Covid measures. Well the team at Oban strived to deliver what is asked, make you feel safe, but most of all make you also feel relaxed and able to enjoy the experience. Loved it.
Written September 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca McV
Ayr, UK1 contribution
Apr 2021 • Friends
Mike was absolutely brillant from start to finish making you feel ‘at home’ with many laughs in between. He also took loads safety precautions including sanitising his hands in every single room whilst keeping his distance but still making it feel personal. During the tour you get three tastes AND a free whiskey glass which is fantastic ‘bang for your buck’. Mike truly made this experience so fantastic as he has a natural talent for reading people and even gave us all nicknames. His passion and knowledge shone through with every word which made the whole experience a genuine 11/10. Couldn’t recommend this more!!!
Written May 10, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Does the bar sell drinks other than whiskey for a non whiskey drinker in the group.
Written August 7, 2024
Does the bar sell drinks other than whiskey for a non whiskey drinker in the group.
Written August 7, 2024
Can I visit the distillery with children?
Written August 2, 2019
How much does a adult ticket cost?
Written March 18, 2019
How long does the tour last?
Written February 6, 2019
About 90 minutes, take your time and enjoy
Written August 8, 2024
Could our very small dog accompany us on a tour of the distillery? She weighs only 5 kilos and could be carried, if that would be required. Thank you.
Written February 2, 2019
Une réservation est -elle nécessaire ?
Written October 18, 2018
How do I book a ticket. Can I do it when we arrive will I need to buy in advance
Written September 16, 2018
Buying in advance would help as it can get busy but the tours are very regular you shouldn't have a problem
Written October 28, 2018
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