Royal Lochnagar Selected Reserve Bottled 1980s 75cl / 43%

A bottle of Royal Lochnagar Selected Reserve. We estimate this was bottled in the 1980s.

The label tells the story of how Lochnagar earned its 'Royal' title:

The Diary of John Begg 14th September 1848:

'I asked Prince Albert if he would like to taste a dram. HRH having agreed to this, I called for a bottle and glasses (which had been previously in readiness) and, presenting one glass to Her Majesty, she tasted it. So did His Royal Highness the Prince. I then presented a glass to the Princess Royal, and to the Prince of Wales, and Prince Alfred, all of whom tasted the spirit.'

As a result of this visit the Distillery was granted the privilege of calling itself 'Royal' Lochnagar, the very first to be accorded this honour by Her Majesty.

This is bottle number 54790.

The Royal Lochnagar Distillery opened as New Lochnagar in 1845 (named after the nearby Munro). In 1848, founder John Begg invited Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to visit the distillery from nearby Balmoral Castle. The monarchs developed quite a taste for this Aberdeenshire malt and the distillery was renamed Royal Lochanagar. The distillery is situated within the Queen's Balmoral estate and is one of the smallest of Diageo’s 28 Scotch malt whisky distilleries.