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Lochnagar (Royal) NEDERLANDS
Region Highlands
District Eastern Highlands
Water source  
Neighbours  
Owner Diageo
Manager Donald Renwick
Visitor centre May to September:
Monday to Saturday, 10am - 5pm. Sunday 12 noon - 5pm
October:
Monday to Friday, 10am - 5pm.
November to March:
 Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm.
April:
Monday to Friday, 10am - 5pm.

Last tour starts one hour before closing.

Admission price:
Adults : £5.00 (This charge includes a discount voucher which is redeemable in the distillery shop towards the purchase of a 70cl bottle of single malt whisky. The distillery shop at Royal Lochnagar stocks a wide range of rare and unusual malts)
Children: free
Please note that children under 8 years old are not admitted to the production areas.
Address Crathie, Ballater,
Aberdeenshire, AB35 5TB
Phone +44 (0)1339 742 700
Fax +44 (0)1339 742 702
History 1826 : set up by a former illicit distiller – but it was soon burned down by fellow smugglers
1845 : rebuilt by Begg in 1845 on the south bank of the river – and he renamed it New Lochnagar
1848 : awarded its royal prefix - following a visit and tasting by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
1860 : closed
1906 : renovated
1916 : acquired by John Dewar & Sons Ltd
1925 : acquired by DCL
1930 : DCL
1963 : renovated
House Style Malty and fruity.
Capacity per year 500.000 litres
Independent Bottler Dewar Rattray
Information Contributor to the blended VAT69.
   

DISTILLERY BOTTLINGS

(Royal) Lochnagar - 12 year old - 40%
Colour:
Pale amber.
Nose:
A relatively closed nose. Planed wood, light toffee, boat varnish. Linseed oil behind, even putty, and later a lychee-like acidity. With water the acidity comes up (acid drops), and the nose sweetens. Still a pleasant fresh woodiness or leatheriness, the varnish now supported by artists turpentine. Warm sand. After a while, coffee dregs with brown sugar. Not an obvious nose, however.
Palate:
Pleasantly acidic; such initial sweetness as there is quickly subsumed by acidity.
Finish:
Dry to bitter; medium-length, with an attractive lingering sandalwood aftertaste.
(Royal) Lochnagar Select Reserve - no age statement - 43%
Colour:
Amber red.
Nose:
A lot of sherry, spicy and gingercake.
Palate:
Well rounded with lots of fruit, malty sweetness, more than a hint of smokiness.
Finish:
Quite short, with a pleasant smokiness.
  (Royal) Lochnagar 1973 - 23 year old - 59,7%
Colour:
Bright gold.
Nose:
Sweet, syrupy and moister gingercake.
Palate:
Appetizing and fresh.
Finish:
Marzipan and a nutty dryness.


 

 (Royal) Lochnagar 1972 - 24 year old - 55,7%
Colour:
Bright gold.
Nose:

Palate:
Appetizing, spicy, gingercake and complex.
Finish:
Cake with cinnamon, very long.

INDEPENDENT BOTTLINGS FROM DEWAR RATTRAY

 (Royal) Lochnagar 1996 - 10 year old - 59,6%
Cask No. 515. Limited to 710 bottles.
Cask:
Refill butt.
Colour:
Very pale straw. Dazzling and bright.
Nose:
Lemon zest & Galia melon. Pear and almond essence.
Palate:
Light and fruity. Currants and apples moulding with soft balanced oak.
Finish:
Fresh and sweet.