HRH THE PRINCE CHARLES, DUKE OF ROTHESAY, VISITS ROYAL LOCHNAGAR DISTILLERY TO BE PRESENTED WITH GIFTED CASK OF 30-YEAR-OLD SCOTCH WHISKY

HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, visited Royal Lochnagar Distillery on Royal Deeside today to be formally presented with a rare cask of single malt Scotch whisky that was laid down 30 years ago as a gift to His Royal Highness.

His Royal Highness toured the distillery and met employees, including one who worked at Royal Lochnagar when the cask was filled in 1988, before tasting the whisky. The cask was originally a gift to His Royal Highness to mark the 140th anniversary of the first royal visit to Royal Lochnagar by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1848. The Prince has generously donated the cask to be bottled and sold in aid of his charity, The Prince’s Foundation, and its new project, The Carriage in Ballater, a bistro and tearoom at the village’s restored Old Royal Station.

Diageo director Ewan Andrew, who received His Royal Highness at the distillery, said: “We are delighted to have welcomed His Royal Highness and to formally hand over this special cask, which will become the oldest single cask bottling of Royal Lochnagar Scotch whisky. We are particularly pleased that this will support the local community in Royal Deeside, which is so important to Royal Lochnagar and our people who live and work here.”

The Prince’s Foundation has already announced its intention to invest the proceeds in local projects that will provide employment and training opportunities for local people, as well as attracting visitors to the area. Earlier this year, The Prince’s Foundation opened The Carriage, a destination tearoom and bistro that is the latest of The Prince’s Foundation’s projects to help Ballater regain its footing after a fire that destroyed the Old Royal Station in 2015 and flooding in the village later that year. Royal Lochnagar Distillery will also offer support by providing Scotch whisky education to trainees on The Prince’s Foundation’s Get Into Hospitality programme at The Carriage.

Robert Lovie, deputy executive director of The Prince’s Foundation, said: “We are delighted that Diageo and Royal Lochnagar Distillery are enthusiastic about contributing greatly to His Royal Highness’s commitment to restore Ballater to its former glory. We plan to use the funds raised from this special edition Royal Lochnagar whisky to support projects in Royal Deeside such as The Carriage at Ballater Station.”

While visiting Royal Lochnagar, The Duke of Rothesay was invited to fill and sign a new cask that will now be laid down and matured at the distillery for His Royal Highness’s future charitable activity. Ewan Andrew commented: “As we pass on one cask, we are pleased that The Duke of Rothesay filled a new cask that will continue the charitable legacy and support further good causes.”

Sean Phillips, Royal Lochnagar distillery manager, who guided His Royal Highness on the tour of the distillery, said: “We are very proud of the whisky we make here and the way we make it. It was a pleasure and privilege to show His Royal Highness how we produce the finest quality spirit using traditional methods that haven’t changed much since Queen Victoria visited the distillery in 1848.”

During the visit, Royal Lochnagar brand home manager Claire Fraser introduced her father Ian Fraser, an operator at the distillery for 32 years, and her grandmother Margaret Finnie, retired distillery secretary and brand home manager, who were both present on the two previous visits by His Royal Highness (in 1995 and 1998 to mark the 150th anniversaries of the distillery and Queen Victoria’s visit).

After unveiling a plaque to commemorate the day, His Royal Highness was presented with a 70th birthday gift, which included a set of coasters, made by the coppersmiths and engineers at Diageo Abercrombie in Alloa using copper from the wash still that would have been in operation at Royal Lochnagar when the whisky was distilled in 1988. They were accompanied by four glasses made by QEST Johnnie Walker Scholar Daniel Durnin, in a box made of larch from The Duke of Rothesay’s Birkhall estate.

The Duke of Rothesay’s cask of 1988 Royal Lochnagar Scotch whisky will be bottled on His Royal Highness’s 70th birthday, 14th November 2018, and details of a ballot, to be run by The Whisky Exchange for the chance to purchase a bottle, will be announced on this date. On tasting the whisky with His Royal Highness and Diageo whisky specialist Maureen Robinson, leading whisky writer Charles MacLean commented: ‘This is a fine expression of Royal Lochnagar with rich fruits, citrus and honey notes, fitting for the occasion.’

Notes

About Royal Lochnagar

The Distillery, which opened as New Lochnagar in 1845 (named after the nearby munro), was renamed Royal Lochnagar following a visit, upon the invitation of founder John Begg, by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert from Balmoral Castle (a mile away) in 1848.

His Royal Highness, The Prince Charles, has visited Royal Lochnagar twice previously, in 1995 and 1998, to mark the 150th anniversaries of the distillery and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s visit.

The smallest of Diageo’s 28 Scotch malt whisky distilleries, Royal Lochnagar retains traditional methods of manual production. The distillery visitor experience is an important tourist attraction on Royal Deeside, welcoming over 20,000 people each year.

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s, and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

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About Diageo in Scotland

• Scotland is one of Diageo’s largest spirit supply centres responsible for producing nearly 50 million cases of leading brands of Scotch whisky and white spirits brands annually
• Around 85% of Diageo’s production in Scotland is exported overseas – exporting whisky, vodka, gin, rum, beer, wine, cream liqueurs, and other spirit-based drinks to over 180 countries.
• Major employer in Scotland with around 3,500 people
• 50 sites including 28 malt distilleries and one grain distillery, along with a 50 per cent share 
in a further grain distillery
• Engineering, technical, warehousing and packaging operations as well as distilleries – 
company’s Scottish headquarters in Edinburgh

Heritage in Scotland dates back to 1627