The single malt of Lochnagar was loved by Queen Victoria and her Prince Consort Albert hence the Royal Warrant of Appointment as supplier to the Queen was granted in 1848. Royal Lochnagar is one of three Scottish distilleries to be named „Royal“. Founded by John Begg on the south side of the River Dee in 1845 the single malt was one of the first to be marketed worldwide as a relatively affordable -low priced- single malt whisky.

The origins go back to 1826 when an illicit distiller set up a distillery north of the River Dee but which was burnt down by smugglers. Since 2006 Royal Lochnagar has been part of the Classic Malt Selection. The annual production is about 400.000 litres of spirit (2008). Most of it is tankered down south to Cambus near Alloa or Leven in Fife, and contributes to blends like Johnnie Walker Black Label or Johnnie Walker Gold Label.

The iron worm tubs are very special as is Royal Lochnagar too. The pot stills are the smallest of Diageo‘s distilleries. However small they are, they do not produce a heavy spirit but a „light, green and grassy“ new make. A special Lochnagar distilling technique with long fermentation, slow boiling and „hot“ worm tubs make for a light style of spirit. „We charge little and make head space,“ explained former Distillery Manager Donald Renwick in 2010.

Distillery Manager: Jackie Robertson (2012)

There is a nice visitor centre offering three different tours: Lochnagar Tour, Lochnagar Family of Whisky Tour and Royal Tour. Excellent guides.