TASTING NOTE

Nose : Light, caramel with some green notes of freshly sawn wood.

Palate : The palate offers a pleasant and quite complex blend of caramel, dry sherry and spices, followed by a hint of licorice.

Finish : Medium length, with an attractive and lingering sandalwood aftertaste.

THE BRAND

Located in the Cairngorms National Park, Royal Lochnagar was James Robertson's second attempt at legally producing whisky in an area known for its moonshine industry. He took out a license in 1823, owning a small distillery on the north bank of the Dee, in Crathie. This act, considered treason by his neighbors, resulted in several arson attacks on his premises. He initially rebuilt it, naming it Lochnagar, but it burned down again in 1841, putting a definitive end to his project. In 1845, John Begg built the current distillery on the other side of the river, choosing to keep Robertson's name. As the climate calmed somewhat, he did not experience the same setbacks as his predecessor. At the same time, Queen Victoria purchased Balmoral Castle, located in the area. This gave J. Begg the idea of extending an invitation to the royal family to visit his distillery. In 1848, the invitation was accepted, and the Queen visited the distillery. History says that she was very impressed by the distiller's work, even granting him the title of purveyor to the court, as well as the right to add the title Royal to his name, just as Royal Brackla in 1835, or Glenury Royal. In 1916, John Dewar acquired it and ten years later joined the Distillers Company Limited, which later became Diageo. It is one of the group's smaller distilleries, but it is an important component of Johnnie Walker's flagship blend, the Blue Label.