Solace on a damp day

Another very wet and misty day in Oban, with poor visibility. The North Pier again offered solace in the form of interesting boats. This is the crabber Jean Frances which featured here with the story of her fouled propeller and a rescue by Oban lifeboat.

Dominating the scene, even the town, is McCaig's tower, the folly on Battery Hill which featured here.

But the reason for the photograph is below the tower, the grey building with white lettering and a chimney - the Oban Distillery, seen better in large.

The distillery began as a brewing company, first formed in 1793 by Hugh and John Stevenson, the family which did much to influence the growth and indeed layout of Oban as a town. They were soon brewing "Cowbell Ale", named after the "coble", a vat for steeping malt. Distilling began the following year.

I won't attempt to paraphrase the distillery's own description of their Malt:

"The premium selected barley, a slow distillation in our small lamp glass stills and careful condensing in our traditional wooden worm tubs work together to produce this fine single malt. Described as rich, fruity with a hint of sea salt and peat smoke"

Oban Distillery has been known for its 12 year old single malt for many years, but also produced a 14 year old single malt which in 1989 became one of the 6 Classic Malts, representing the Western Highlands. Proud Oban :-)

So I shouldn't moan about the rain. Without it, we would not have the peaty streams which form part of the raw ingredients of this remarkable whisky. It's a crying shame that I don't drink spirits when I so often come to one of its earliest homes. I feel I should develop a taste for it .... another kind of solace for many.