WeeDrammers for Augst – A “Royal” Affair
The Weedrammers gathered at Berwick Parksville for our August tasting, hosted by Bo H. It was a perfect setting to be treated to two wonderful drams, Royal Lochnagar and Royal Brackla, each having been granted a Royal Warrant in the 1800s. Being allowed to incorporate “Royal” into their names is a rare and prestigious designation in the whisky industry. Only three Scotch Whisky distilleries bear the “Royal” title; Royal Brackla, Royal Lochnagar and Glenury Royal (which is now closed) were awarded Royal Warrants in the 1800s, allowing them to incorporate “Royal” into their names — a rare and prestigious designation in the whisky industry.
A Royal Warrant is an “official mark of recognition granted to companies or individuals who have supplied goods or services to the Royal Household for a certain period of time and to a high standard.” Royal Warrants are granted by HM The King or Queen. The monarch’s household decides who receives a warrant which signifies that the company is a trusted supplier of the royal family and has done so for a significant period usually 5 years or more. Look carefully on the boxes of each dram and the words “By appointment to His Majesty The King (or the appropriate Royal) appears.
Our first tasting of the evening was “Royal Brackla” the first Scotch whisky distillery to receive a Royal Warrant, granted by King William IV in 1833.
Founded in 1812, the Brackla distillery was established by Captain William Fraser of Brackla House, near Nairn in the Highlands of Scotland. King William IV was especially fond of the whisky produced there. The quality and refinement of Brackla’s single malt impressed him so much that in 1833, he bestowed the Royal Warrant, making it the first Scotch whisky distillery to receive such an honor. The Royal Warrant elevated Brackla’s status and allowed it to officially use the title “Royal Brackla,” a rare distinction among distilleries. This was a significant moment in Scotch whisky history — it marked the first time a distillery was given permission to use the term “Royal” in its name.
Royal Brackla is a Highland Single Malt Scotch. Vintages include 12, 16 and 21 year old. We sampled the 12 year old, a whisky coming in at 40% ABV and a price around $120.00. Ours was purchased at Hammond Bay.
- On the nose Royal Brackla is aromatic and luxurious with hints of ripe orchard fruits (pear, apple), hints of vanilla custard, light floral notes with a touch of spice (cinnamon, nutmeg) and sherry cask expressions.
- On the palate, the dram is silky and well-structured. Honey, creamy malt, spiced apple. Apricot and hints of dark chocolate and sherry add to the richness of the dram.
- The finish is described as long, smooth and warming with lingering notes of fruit and soft spice.
Royal Brackla is a well-crafted whisky that leans toward the elegant and complex side of Highland malts. Its royal heritage is not just a marketing point—it reflects in the whisky’s polished character.
Our second dram for the evening, “Royal Lochnagar” so named because of its close association with the British Royal Family, specifically Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. In 1848, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the Lochnagar Distillery, which is located near Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands. They were so impressed by the distillery and its whisky that they granted it a Royal Warrant. After receiving the Royal Warrant, the distillery was officially renamed “Royal Lochnagar”.
Described as a “well‑bred”, Royal Lochnagar is a medium-bodied, smooth, and “packed with personality but never overbearing”. The Whisky Exchange describes this dram as one that shows a relatively closed nose, evolving with water to reveal toffee, wood, dried fruit cake, grass, mixed spice, citrus peel, sandalwood, and coffee. The palate is delicately sweet, becoming slightly acidic; the finish is dry and medium, with lingering sandalwood.
It is rare to read reviews of whisky where there is some disagreement. In the case of Royal Lochnagar, some describe this 12 year old as being “delicate, a classic Highland malt—smooth, slightly sweet, woody. An elegant nose and a balanced palate is compromised by a somewhat thin body and s short finish. Interestingly, some savour its refinement and faint complexity, while others find it unexciting or underwhelming for the price.
No problem though. Our group were not disappointed by this dram.
ABV – 40%. Available at Hammond Bay Liquor for roughly $120
Berwick served as a wonderful host for the evening. From preparing small personalized flower arrangements (one for each of the group) to preparing a sumptuous array of appetizers for the evening our host made the evening special.
