Oban

Oban distillery is one of the smallest and oldest distilleries in Scotland, making their sophisticated Scotch a rather sought-after commodity. The story began in the Town of Oban in the Highlands, with two brothers who started making whisky on the site of an old brewery, using water from the nearby Loch Glenn a’Bhearraidh. Ownership of the distillery has changed hands a few times during the course of its history, but the quality of its whisky has remained unquestioned. Maybe it's the water, maybe it's the traditional 'worm tubs' and short stills that give this whisky a distinctly balanced character, but not only has Oban whisky made it to the twenty-first century, it's also one of the rare urban distilleries to do so.

This is a smoky, creamy whisky with a long, malty finish, but each of its releases has a different expression to its siblings. The Oban 14 Year Old is a little less fruity than the Oban Distiller's Edition 2003 – both are available to buy online right here though, and could be on the way to your doorstep shortly.