🥃 Royal Lochnagar
Distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand in Crathie, Aberdeenshire, about a mile from Balmoral Castle; founded by John Begg in 1845; 'Royal' after the 1848 visit of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Royal Lochnagar is a distillery and single malt Scotch whisky brand in Crathie, Aberdeenshire, in Royal Deeside, about a mile from Balmoral Castle. According to Malts.com, the site of the Diageo group, it was founded in 1845 by John Begg and received the 'Royal' prefix after a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1848.
How it is made. According to the producer, this is a small traditional distillery, one of the smallest still operating: it has two pagoda kiln heads and an open mash tun, and its water comes from the Scarnock springs. The producer describes the flavour as butterscotch and treacle toffee.
Visiting. The distillery is run by Diageo as a visitor centre, with tours and tastings; booking in advance is recommended, especially in peak season.
Why this matters to you. 'Royal' in the name is a historic title granted after a royal visit, not a mark of quality or age. Under the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, Scotch whisky is matured in oak in Scotland for at least 3 years and bottled at 40% ABV or more. The WHO reminds that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1845, John Begg (Crathie, Aberdeenshire); 'Royal' after the 1848 visit |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak in Scotland by law |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV by law |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Royal Lochnagar → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Diageo
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🍷 Sherry
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 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
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Black Label, 🥃 Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Frequently asked questions
Why is the distillery called 'Royal'?
According to Malts.com, it received the prefix after a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1848.
Where is Royal Lochnagar?
In Crathie, Aberdeenshire, in Royal Deeside, about a mile from Balmoral Castle.
Who founded Royal Lochnagar?
John Begg, in 1845, according to the Malts.com site of Diageo.
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.
- 🍷 Sherry — Protected wine from the Jerez de la Frontera area of Andalusia, aged in oak casks in the solera system; 14 to 22 % alcohol.
- 🌍 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.
Similar
🥃 Benrinnes · 🥃 Blair Athol · 🥃 Glengoyne · 🥃 Ben Nevis · 🥃 Dailuaine · 🥃 Oban
⚠️ 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
- Malts.com (Diageo): Royal Lochnagar distillery — Crathie, Balmoral, founded 1845 by John Begg, royal name after the 1848 visit
- Malts.com (Diageo): Royal Lochnagar — two pagoda kiln heads, open mash tun, Scarnock springs, small traditional distillery
- Diageo: Lochnagar Visitor Centre
- 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)