Royal Lochnagar Distillery claims to have had the first ever tour of a whisky distillery here, in 1848 by none other than Queen Victoria. A few weeks later, the Queen’s husband, Prince Albert, awarded the distillery a Royal Warrant, and its spirit undoubtedly left a lasting impression.
157 years later: Serge Valentin, the creator of WhiskyFun.comsipped his favorite drink from Royal Lochnagar. So, this week on Scotch Whisky LegendsI thought it might be fun to take a closer look at Royal Lochnagar 1973 30 Year Old Old & Rare Platinum Selection, Serge’s highest rated whisky from the distillery. Does the distillery still deserve its Royal Warrant today? Let’s find out.
The Royal Lochnagar 1973 30 year old Douglas Laing Old & Rare Platinum Selection
For a long time, Royal Lochnagar Whisky was hardly considered a single malt. Even today, there are only three single malt expressions in the distillery’s core range. This is because Royal Lochnagar Whisky, thanks to its ownership by DCL (now Diageo), is one of the key components in the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Mixture.
Royal Lochnagar Selected Reserve was, of course, a popular official single malt bottling. It was once the most expensive whisky in Diageo’s portfolio. However, in a world where the focus is constantly on vintage and age-statement Scotch, this expression has fallen a little by the wayside.
Fans of vintage single malts have therefore largely relied on independent bottlings of Royal Lochnagar whisky, such as the subject of today’s article: the Royal Lochnagar 1973 30 Year Old.
This whisky was bottled by Douglas Laing in 2003 as part of the Old & Rare series. The series was launched in 2001, making this an early bottling in the collection. Bottled from a single cask at 57.9% ABV, this is one of only 239 bottles ever produced.
So what did Serge have to say about this single malt Royal Lochnagar?
Tasting notes by Serge Valentin on the Royal Lochnagar 1973 30 year old Douglas Laing Old & Rare Platinum Selection
Serge Valentin tried this cult product in February 2005. So we know that there are currently a maximum of 238 bottles left in the world!
This is what Serge has to say:
“Color: surprisingly light (pale straw).
Nose: beautifully balanced, if not too expressive at first sniff. But it soon gets better. Lots of fresh fruit (mango, apricot) along with some great hints of camphor, almond milk and truffles (summer truffle – Tuber aestivum). Continue with lots of dried flowers, herbal tea, caramel rice cake. What a great nose, ripe and yet so full of youth.
Mouth: again a beautiful taste, perfectly balanced and extremely satisfying. Sure, it’s a little woody at the start – with a lot of pepper – but then it’s a whirlwind of flowers, fruits and spices, but not too ostentatious.
Long and very satisfying finish. Simply a great single malt whisky with excellent balance and fantastic compactness. Ah, and those truffle smells! 90 points.” – Serge Valentin, WhiskyFun.comFebruary 2005
Auction prices (or lack thereof…)
As expected, this Royal Lochnagar Single Malt is extremely difficult to find at auction, having only appeared four times as far as I know.
The current auction record is 390 €achieved at Whisky Auctioneer in February 2024. That seems pretty low to me. A vintage age statement cask strength whisky from the first distillery ever to be granted a Royal Warrant, of which only 238 (maximum) exist? £390? A bargain.
Royal Lochnagar’s connection to the royal family
The connection between Royal Lochnagar and the royal family began in 1848, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the distillery during their stay at the recently acquired Balmoral Castle.
They were captivated by the charm of the distillery and the quality of the whisky produced there. Queen Victoria awarded Royal Lochnagar a Royal Warrant and officially added the title of “Royal” to its name. This royal distinction not only enhanced the distillery’s reputation, but also forever linked it to the monarchy.
In 1988, Royal Lochnagar presented Prince (now King) Charles with a special cask of whisky for his 40th birthday, reaffirming its historic connection to the royal family. Prince Charles, known for his love of Scottish traditions, had a close relationship with the distillery, which is located near Balmoral, his family’s treasured estate. The barrel was later bottled and the proceeds went to charityand shows the Prince’s commitment to philanthropy.
The distillery’s connection to royalty has undoubtedly boosted its standing in the public sector. Despite being Diageo’s smallest distillery, Royal Lochnagar has consistently produced high-quality whisky, backed by its connection to royalty.
