Royal Lochnagar Distillery: History, Owner and Visitor Guide
Updated: 52 minutes ago
Royal Lochnagar is a small Deeside distillery in Crathie, a short walk from Balmoral Castle. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited in 1848 and granted a Royal Warrant, which is where the Royal in the name comes from. It is owned by Diageo. This guide covers where it is, its history, production and how to visit.
In this guide
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Royal Lochnagar at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Location / region | Highland, Scotland |
Owner / producer | Diageo |
History | Established in the 1840s; the Royal connection dates to Queen Victoria's 1848 visit. |
Style | Single malt Scotch whisky |
Bottles documented | Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old, Royal Lochnagar Selected Reserve |
Before visiting | Check current public access, tour availability and opening hours directly with the producer. |
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Where is Royal Lochnagar Distillery?
Royal Lochnagar is in Crathie, Aberdeenshire, postcode AB35 5TB, on the River Dee in the Highlands. The telephone number listed is +44 1339 742700.
Royal Lochnagar at a glance
Region: Highland, Royal Deeside
Founded: 1845 by John Begg
Royal Warrant: 1848
Owner: Diageo since 1997
Stills: 2 (one wash, one spirit)
Washbacks: 3, wooden
Condensers: worm tubs
Malt: lightly peated, mainly made in house
Water source: Lochnagar foothills spring
The story of Royal Lochnagar
Moonshining was profitable in Upper Deeside in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and the local smugglers did not welcome legal distilling. ScotchWhisky.com says James Robertson, the first to try it in the parish of Crathie from 1823, had three distilleries burned down. Its timeline records the first fire in 1826 and another in 1841.
John Begg began distilling across the river from Crathie in 1845, just after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought the neighbouring Balmoral Estate. He invited them to the distillery, and in 1848 what is claimed to be the first ever distillery tour took place. The royal party tasted the whisky and a few weeks later Albert awarded a Royal Warrant.
John Begg died in 1882 and his son Henry Farquharson Begg inherited the distillery. It became a private limited company in 1902 and was rebuilt in 1906. John Dewar & Sons bought it in 1916, it joined DCL in 1925 and SMD in 1930, and it was refurbished in 1963.
Who owns Royal Lochnagar now?
Diageo, since 1997. ScotchWhisky.com calls it the smallest member, by some way, of Diageo's 29 strong distillery portfolio.
How Royal Lochnagar is made
Mashing: traditional lauter mash tun, 5.4 tonnes of grist
Fermentation: a minimum of 60 hours in three wooden washbacks
Distillation: a small wash still (6,000 litre charge) and spirit still (3,900 litre charge), both plain shaped, running into worm tubs
New make strength: 67 to 68% ABV; filling strength 63.5%
Maturation: ScotchWhisky.com says the bulk of the make is aged in ex-Sherry butts
The Royal Lochnagar range
The make has mostly gone into blends. ScotchWhisky.com says it became the named malt in the Korean bestseller Windsor and is among the malts used in Johnnie Walker Blue Label. The single malt range is small:
Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old
Selected Reserve: no age statement, 100% Sherry cask, at one time the most expensive whisky in the Diageo portfolio
Distillers Edition: finished in Moscatel casks, first released in 2008
We could not load a current official page with ABVs, so check the label.
Visiting Royal Lochnagar
ScotchWhisky.com lists seasonal hours. Monday to Friday the distillery opens at 10am and closes at 4pm from November to March, 5pm in April, September and October and 6pm in August. Weekend hours are shorter. Check ahead because hours and tours change.
Royal Lochnagar FAQs
Why is it called Royal Lochnagar? Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited in 1848 and Albert awarded a Royal Warrant.
Who owns Royal Lochnagar? Diageo, since 1997.
Where is Royal Lochnagar? In Crathie, Aberdeenshire, near Balmoral Castle.
How big is Royal Lochnagar? It has two small stills and is the smallest distillery in Diageo's portfolio.
Is Royal Lochnagar peated? Lightly, per the malt specification.
Can you visit Royal Lochnagar? Yes, with seasonal opening hours.
Sources
Main source loaded for this post: ScotchWhisky.com Whiskypedia (history, timeline, production facts, owners, contact). The Diageo Malts GB site loaded for Dalwhinnie and lists Royal Lochnagar as a sister distillery, but its Royal Lochnagar page was not opened. Not found or not tried: The Single Cask, Whisky Advocate, Whiskybase and Whisky Magazine. No ABVs were found.
Read the ScotchWhisky.com Royal Lochnagar entry
Cover image: Wikimedia Commons.
What makes Royal Lochnagar distinctive?
Small Highland distillery known for blended whisky contributions and select single malts
Royal Lochnagar bottle and expression comparison
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old | 12 years | Check label | Small Highland distillery known for blended whisky contributions and select single malts |
Royal Lochnagar Selected Reserve | NAS / varies | Check label | Small Highland distillery known for blended whisky contributions and select single malts |
Bottle ranges, casks and strengths change. The table lists documented releases, not guaranteed current stock; check the producer's labels and latest information.
More whisky distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Royal Lochnagar
Where is Royal Lochnagar based?
Highland, Scotland. See the location section for the detailed site address.
Who owns Royal Lochnagar?
Diageo.
What matters in Royal Lochnagar's history?
Established in the 1840s; the Royal connection dates to Queen Victoria's 1848 visit.
Which whiskies are associated with Royal Lochnagar?
Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old, Royal Lochnagar Selected Reserve. Current availability varies.
Can you visit Royal Lochnagar?
Check the producer's latest booking and visitor information; some working distilleries are not open for public tours.
Sources and editorial checks
Original research, references and historical qualifications have been retained in this article. Visitor details and expression availability are date-sensitive.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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