Royal Lochnagar 12 Years Old

An official Royal Lochnagar single malt matured to 12 year old and bottled at 40%. Royal Lochnagar was opened in 1845 on the Balmoral estate's doorstep in Deeside; it became Royal Lochnagar by warrant of Queen Victoria in 1848. The slogan once ran take a peg of John Begg, and the malt long fed the blends.

The spirit was made in one of Scotch's smallest still pairs, condensed in worm tubs, for a deep, fruity make of unusual weight for its size. Maturation came in ex-Bourbon wood, with vanilla under the orchard fruit. Around the dozen year mark the make gains a sherried depth over orchard fruit. Sherry wood suits the weighty make, lending dried fruit and a nutty depth. The distillery stayed in the Begg family until it passed to John Dewar and Sons. Royal Deeside has been royal country since Victoria and Albert bought Balmoral. For all its tiny size, the make carries a real mid palate weight.

At 40% it is soft, malty and fruity. Vanilla and a creamy note from the barrel runs under dried fruit and a malty weight. A dried fruit and a gentle oak spice give it real weight. Dried fruit and oak spice see out a long finish. This is a Highland malt from beside Balmoral.