wsky1

Buyer's guide · 2026

How to buy Oban at auction

44 recent Oban lots tracked across six major auction houses. Median hammer: £73. This page shows where it sells, when it's cheapest, and what you actually pay after buyer's premium.

Where Oban sells

Auction-house breakdown for Oban — last 24 months. Pick the house with the most lots for the best chance of finding what you want; consider buyer's premium when comparing hammer prices.

Auction houseLotsMedian hammerBuyer's premium
Scotch Whisky Auctions28£7012%
Whisky Hammer16£22012.5%

When to buy Oban

Months with the lowest median hammer prices over the last 24 months. Quiet auction months often see softer prices as fewer buyers compete.

Lower prices

Apr

Median £55 · 17 lots

Lower prices

May

Median £75 · 25 lots

Busiest months are also worth knowing — more lots = more inventory: May (25), Apr (17), Feb (1).

Recent Oban hammer prices

Last 12 outcomes across all houses — real evidence of what bottles cleared for. Click through for full price history.

LotHouseHammerSold
Oban - Old Teddy (Limited Edition)Whisky Hammer£36024 May 26
Oban - Grandson Derek (Limited Edition)Whisky Hammer£24024 May 26
Oban Distillery Exclusive Batch #1Scotch Whisky Auctions£7024 May 26
Oban Bay Reserve Game Of Thrones ‘The Night’s Watch'Scotch Whisky Auctions£4524 May 26
Oban 1996 21 Year Old 2018 ReleaseScotch Whisky Auctions£28024 May 26
Oban 2007 Distillers EditionScotch Whisky Auctions£759 May 26
Oban The MacLeans Grandson DerekScotch Whisky Auctions£2609 May 26
Oban 1992 Am Mod MorScotch Whisky Auctions£1109 May 26
Oban 10 Year Old Special Release 2024Scotch Whisky Auctions£659 May 26
Oban 1985 Distillers EditionScotch Whisky Auctions£1108 May 26
Oban 1996 Distillers EditionScotch Whisky Auctions£608 May 26
Oban 2007 Distillers EditionScotch Whisky Auctions£508 May 26

Buyer's checklist for Oban

  1. Verify provenance. For bottles over £500, ask for receipts, original photos, and ideally a seller who is named on the auction house's verified accounts list.
  2. Check fill level. Low shoulder fill on a 25+ year old bottle is normal; mid-shoulder isn't. Loss of liquid is permanent.
  3. Inspect closures. Wax-dipped seals can hide damage. Loose corks risk evaporation. Reputable houses photograph closely — ask for higher-res images if not provided.
  4. Compare hammer to wsky1 median. If a lot is >15% above our 12-month median, you're either bidding on something special (book, presentation case, signed) or overpaying.
  5. Add buyer's premium + VAT. Your total is hammer × (1 + premium %) + any VAT. For a £1,000 hammer at Bonhams (27.5%) with UK VAT on the premium, your real cost is closer to £1,330.
  6. Shipping & insurance. International shipping of spirits is restricted; many houses use specialist couriers. Get a quote before you bid, not after.

More on Oban

Track Oban price changes — free for 3 bottles

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