🥃 Royal Brackla
Distillery and single malt Scotch brand on the Cawdor Estate near Nairn (Highland), founded in 1812 according to the producer; the first Scotch to receive a Royal Warrant; owned by John Dewar & Sons (Bacardi).
Royal Brackla is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand on the Cawdor Estate near Nairn in the Scottish Highlands. According to the producer, it was founded in 1812 by Captain William Fraser. It is owned by John Dewar & Sons, part of the Bacardi group.
History. According to the producer, Brackla was the first Scotch whisky to receive a Royal Warrant: it was granted in 1833 by King William IV and renewed in 1838 by Queen Victoria. This is the origin of the word Royal in the name; the brand calls the whisky The King's Own Whisky.
How it is made. According to the producer, the whisky is made only from malted barley, all of it sourced in Scotland, in copper pot stills; the malt is unpeated.
Range. According to the producer, all expressions carry an age statement of at least 12 years: 12 (finished in oloroso sherry casks), 18 (palo cortado), 21 (oloroso, palo cortado and Pedro Ximénez) and 25 years (Pedro Ximénez). The first maturation is in American oak casks. The core range is bottled at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered and with natural colour.
Why this matters to you. Royal is a historical title, not a mark of quality. The distillery is not open to the public. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | 1812 (according to the producer), Captain William Fraser; Cawdor Estate near Nairn |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Highland) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky (whisky/whiskey) |
| Raw material | unpeated malted barley, all sourced in Scotland (according to the producer) |
| Distillation method | copper pot stills (according to the producer) |
| Cask type | American oak, then a sherry-cask finish (oloroso, palo cortado, Pedro Ximénez) |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law; the producer's expressions are 12, 18, 21 and 25 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV by law; the core range is 46% |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Royal Brackla → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🐝 American white oak, 🍷 Sherry
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Highland whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Dewar's, 🥃 Aberfeldy
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Royal Brackla was the first Scotch with a royal warrant?
According to the producer, yes: the warrant came from King William IV in 1833 and was renewed in 1838 by Queen Victoria.
When was Royal Brackla founded?
According to the producer, in 1812, by Captain William Fraser, on the Cawdor Estate near Nairn.
Who owns Royal Brackla?
John Dewar & Sons, part of the Bacardi group.
What casks is Royal Brackla matured in?
First in American oak, then a sherry-cask finish: oloroso in the 12-year-old, palo cortado in the 18-year-old and Pedro Ximénez in the 25-year-old.
Can you visit Royal Brackla?
No. According to the producer, the distillery is not open to the public for tours or tastings.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
Similar
🥃 Glengoyne · 🥃 Ben Nevis · 🥃 Teaninich · 🥃 Blair Athol · 🥃 Loch Lomond Distillery · 🥃 Glen Ord
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Royal Brackla (official site): FAQ (1812, Captain William Fraser, Cawdor Estate near Nairn; Royal Warrant 1833 from King William IV, renewed 1838; copper pot stills, unpeated; American oak then sherry finish; 12, 18, 21, 25 YO; 46 %; John Dewar & Sons, Bacardi; not open to the public)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)