Royal Lochnagar 12 Year Old

Nestled along the banks of the River Dee in the picturesque Highlands, the Royal Lochnagar distillery holds the title of the smallest distillery (by production volume) in Diageo’s extensive portfolio. Situated just a stone’s throw away from Balmoral Castle, the Scottish residence of the Royal Family, Royal Lochnagar has a rich heritage dating back to the 1840s. Its proximity to Balmoral made it the favoured whisky of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, earning the distillery its regal moniker.

Today, Royal Lochnagar not only serves as a proving ground for the development of Diageo’s staff and potential managers but also contributes to Diageo’s own blends, including the iconic Johnnie Walker. The regal name as well as the limited availability of its single malt bottling, particularly outside the UK, adds an air of exclusivity to this Highland gem.

Bottle

This is a very simple bottle and design with a classic style, unsurprising for a whisky which trades partly on its centuries old connection to the British Royal Family. The bottle shape is nearly identical to Cragganmore 12 year old, one of Royal Lochnagar’s sister distilleries in the Diageo group. It has a similar old fashioned look to the label too but the blue styling makes this a much more attractive looking bottle than the Cragganmore. The Royal connection is proudly displayed on the lower label making this a delightful looking bottle.

Colour

The colour is exactly what you would expect from a whisky aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks, firmly in the middle of the spectrum, probably a ‘burnished’ gold colour.

Nose - What delightful, yet simple aromas from this whisky. I get toffee and plenty of sweetness and maybe a soft whisper of butterscotch. This is a mellow whisky on the nose.

Palate - The sweetness is the main theme here too. A little butterscotch again or maybe boiled sweets with quite a malty flavour which create a velvety texture on the palate. There is a little warmth too from some delicate spice flavours including a little cinnamon or nutmeg.

Finish - A medium length finish but very satisfying. There are oak undertones that emerge as the sweetness recedes. It certainly feels like a whisky that might reside on a side trolley in a royal castle!

Overall

This is not a show-stopping whisky but it is very pleasant, especially if you like your whisky silky, smooth and sweet. At around £45 this is not a cheap bottle, I suspect much of this inflation is due to size of the distillery and its connection with the Royal Family but it probably isn’t justified. If you can find this for under £40 then I would give it a go.

Available from Master of Malt for around £45, or check price and availability at Amazon