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Royal
Lochnager Whisky Distillery
Distillery Opening Times & Tour Schedule
Royal Lochnagar distillery is situated on the south side
of the River Dee close to Balmoral Castle. Age old traditions
and craftmanship produce one of Scotland's most exclusive
whiskies. A visit to Royal Lochnagar is a timeless experience.
You can see the distillers tending to the traditional mashtun
and gleaming copper stills. At the tour end your complimentary
dram will confirm that Royal Lochnagar is a malt whisky
worthy of the "Royal" prefix to its name.
Operations Manager: Donald Renwick
OPENING TIMES
November to March: Monday - Friday : 10am - 4pm
April to May: Monday - Friday: 10am - 5pm
Saturday: 10am - 4pm & Sunday: 12noon - 4pm
May to September: Monday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Sunday: 12noon - 5pm
October: Monday - Friday: 10am - 5pm
Saturday: 10am - 4pm & Sunday: 12noon - 4pm
DISTILLERY TOURS 2008
January to March
We operate tours Monday to Friday as follows:
11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm
April to October
We operate tours 7 days a week, at 30 minute intervals,
with the last tour leaving 1 hour before closing.
November and December
We operate tours at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3pm. Booking
for groups of over 8 is advisable.
Last tour ONE hour before closing.
Children under 8 are not permitted to the production area.
Christimas Shopping Opening
The distillery visitor centre will be open on December 8th
& 15th from 11am - 4pm and it will be closed between
December 24th 2007 and 3rd January 2008.
Admission
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.
Admission is free to all Friends of the Classic Malts.
Royal Lochnagar Distillery Shop
We stock a wide range of single and rare malt whiskies,
books and glassware. Come and see our special offers in
store.
Gift Ideas at Royal Lochnagar
Lyle & Scott merchandise including ladies and gents
pullovers, poloshirts and scarfs.
A selection of Glencairn Crystal glasswear.
Whisky Books & Magazines.
Contact Us
Royal Lochnagar Distillery
Ballater Aberdeenshire
AB35 5TB Scotland
Telephone: +44 (0) 1339 742700
Fax: +44 (0) 1339 742702
The History of Royal Lochnagar Distillery
1845 John Begg is granted a long lease of the Lochnagar
site by Abergeldie Estate and starts distilling on the south
bank of the Dee.
1848 Queen Victoria acquires Balmoral, half a mile from
the distillery. John Begg invites Prince Albert to visit.
Prince Albert accepts his invitation and arrives the next
day with Queen Victoria and their three eldest Children.
Mr Begg receives a Royal Warrant of Appointment as a supplier
to the Queen.
1850-1879 The fine Royal Lochnagar, as the brand became
known, commands a high price and demand continues to grow.
The distillery increased in size and warehouse and offices
are acquired in Aberdeen. Begg also becomes a pioneer in
the blended Scotch Whisky industry.
1880 Begg dies, leaving his only son, Henry Farquharson
Begg, with a large trade in blended and bottled whisky home
and abroad. Henry, lacks his father's enthusiasm and appoints
a manager to look after his interests.
1896 Henry Farquharson Begg dies, having created a trust
of the business in which each of his children benefits equally.
1902 The distillery is converted into a privated limited
company, John Begg Ltd, after it becomes apparent that this
business is too complex to be operated as a trust.
1916 Distillery acquired by John Dewar and Sons Ltd.
1925 John Dewar & Sons Ltd joint Distillers Company
Ltd.
1949-1987 During this time a great deal of alterations
took place to the distillery building and the machinery
tradtionally powered by water and steam are replace by electrical
equipment. The farm steading is converted to Visitor Centre.
Today The distillery is now owned by Diageo Scotland Ltd,
one of the largest spirit producing companies in the world.
The visitor centre incorporates a shop with a wide range
of rare and unusual whiskies to be found. The distillery
still retains traditional techniques handed down through
generations.
Courtesy of Royal Lochnager Distillery |
Royal
Lochnagar was awarded its royal prefix in 1848 - following
a visit and tasting by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
The event came about after the distillery manager John Begg
(somewhat cheekily) dropped a note to their Royal Highnesses
directly inviting them to pay a visit and sample the delights
of the distillery and rather impudently, he mentioned that
if they didn’t arrive by 6pm they would miss the distillery
in operation. To him, there was no question that he would
extend the routine to accommodate his royal guests. What
happened next was quite extraordinary – without fanfare,
Victoria and Albert paid an impromptu call and were suitably
impressed. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. 
