Royal Lochnagar Celebrates Royal Warrant

Royal Lochnagar has been granted a Royal Warrant as Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen. 

To celebrate, the first cask filled after the granting of the Royal Warrant has gone on display. It bears the Scottish Royal Arms in full heraldic colours. These are set against a Royal Lochnagar blue background. This was hand painted by artist Thomas Oates. Thomas is the son of a senior carriage restorer whose family has worked for generations at Buckingham Palace.

The Royal Warrant is recognition of the regular supply of goods to the Royal Household. It allows Royal Lochnagar to display the Royal Arms on its whiskies and at the distillery. The distillery is mile from Her Majesty’s Balmoral Estate in Scotland.

Ewan Andrew is Director of The Lochnagar Distillery and has been appointed as Grantee for the Royal Warrant. He said: “Being granted a Royal Warrant is a great privilege for everyone at Royal Lochnagar. The Distillery has a long association with the Royal Family. We're proud to be Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen.”

Fed by the crystal-clear water of the Scarnock springs, Royal Lochnagar is a traditional distillery. It continues to use manual methods of production to distil a quality Highland whisky. Their whiskies are known for a rich, delicately balanced character.

The Distillery was founded in 1845 as New Lochnagar, named after a nearby mountain. It was renamed Royal Lochnagar three years later after a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Prince Charles has visited the distillery on three occasions, most recently in 2018. Today, Royal Lochnagar is part of the fabric of the Royal Deeside community. It's a popular destination welcoming over 20,000 visitors each year.

Sean Phillips is Royal Lochnagar's Distillery Manager. Sean oversaw the filling of the first cask under the Royal Warrant. He said: “This is a very special day for all the team at Royal Lochnagar. Not only to be granted the Royal Warrant. But also to have the Scottish Royal Arms painted so beautifully on one of our casks by Thomas Oates. It is an honour and privilege.”

Royal Lochnagar is the fifth Royal Warrant granted by Her Majesty to a brand owned by Diageo. Warrants are also held by Johnnie Walker as Scotch Whisky Distillers, Justerini & Brooks as Wine & Spirits Merchant, Pimm’s as Distillers & Compounders, and Gin Distillers Tanqueray Gordon.