Royal Lochnager Whisky Distillery

The Royal Lochnagar 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.

Please note that the Visitor Centre will not be open on Saturday 26th April due to access roads being closed for the Balmoral 10K Race. We will be present at Balmoral on race day so please come along and see us!

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.

Getting There

By Road: The Royal Lochnagar Distillery is siituated at Crathie, which is just off the A93, 9 miles from Braemar and 8 miles from Ballater. The distillery lies next to Balmoral Castle in the heart of Royal Deeside.

By Rail: Aberdeen railway station 50 miles (approx)

By Bus: There is a bus service provided by Stagecoach Bluebird which operates between Aberdeen and Braemar.

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.

More Royal Lochnagar Information...