The name Oban means "small bay." It was founded in 1794 by two brothers, John and Hugh Stevenson, making it one of the oldest continuously operating Scottish whisky distilleries.
In its founding year, there was no town at the production site; the city developed over time around the distillery.
After a tumultuous corporate history involving several renovations and changes of ownership, the Oban Distillery is now part of the spirits conglomerate Diageo, formerly known as United Distillers.
The aromatic whisky is globally marketed by the owner as part of its Classic Malts series.