Managers Warehouse Tasting
A tutored tasting and talk on all things whisky with our distillery manager Andrew Thain
Join us to enjoy a talk and tutored tasting of four whiskies hosted by Royal's Lochnagar Distillery Manager, Andrew Thain; an opportunity to pick his brain on all things whisky! Each liquid was specially selected from our collection of casks in our Duty Paid Warehouse.
This truly unique experience is not to be missed!
Please note, this experience is a tasting only and does not include a tour of the distillery.
Please note that this experience is not suitable for guests under the age of 18.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of your allotted time slot. If you are late, we shall assume that you have failed to attend, and we reserve the right to continue the at the scheduled time in your absence. Unfortunately, if you are late or you miss your allotted booking time, it is very unlikely that we will be able to reallocate you or your party to another slot.
If you are unable to find a suitable booking time, then please do still visit our retail store and Courtyard Bar where you will receive a warm welcome. Explore the flavours of Royal Lochnagar and discover your perfect serve, whether you’re a whisky dram loyalist, innovative cocktail enthusiast, or aficionado of alcohol-free quenchers.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your visit please get in touch via Royal.Lochnagar@malts.com or call us at 01339 742700 and a member of the team will be happy to help.
HOW TO GET THERE
Planning your visit
Address: Royal Lochnagar Distillery, Balmoral, Crathie, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5TB, UK
Royal Lochnagar distillery is situated on the South side of the River Dee, one mile from Balmoral Castle. The closest villages would be Ballater which is 8.7 miles and Braemar which is 9.9 miles. The 201 bus service stops at the Balmoral car park and the distillery is one mile from there. However, please note buses are not regular so please do plan ahead and check the updated bus schedule. Royal Lochnagar is most easily accessible by car or taxi. The nearest train station and airport would be Aberdeen, which is 48.3 miles, around 1.5 hours away.
We recommend visiting Traveline Scotland to plan your route and to stay up to date on transport options.
Read more at https://travelinescotland.com/
Please note that the distillery may close on short notice in the winter due to weather conditions. Please check our Google listing for current information before visiting us.
January - February | Thursday - Monday | 10:00 - 16:00
March – May | Monday - Sunday | 10:00 - 17:00
June- August | Monday- Sunday | 10:00- 18:00
September | December Monday | Sunday 10:00 - 17:00
We’re thrilled that our sustainability efforts at Royal Lochnagar have been recognised by the UK’s top eco-tourism body. We’ve been awarded the prestigious Green Tourism Gold award, the highest level of certification, for our commitment to sustainable tourism.
Our sustainability journey began at the distillery in 1990s with the establishment of the Royal Lochnagar Nature Reserve. The award-winning project included creating habitats for local nesting birds, planting trees and putting up bird and bat boxes amongst other projects. The team have worked year upon year to introduce new methods to be more environmentally friendly. By incorporating water and energy efficiency methods, such as LED motion sensor light replacement programme, natural production breaks to limit energy use and using Biofuel, in the form of a by-product of rapeseed oil, to fuel its boilers, we’ve been able to reduce our water and energy use significantly at Royal Lochnagar distillery.
We’ve also continued our focus on nature conservation at the distillery to encourage natural wildlife in the area. We also ensure all distillery co-products are reused, such as draff (the left-over grain from distilling) being fed to local animals, and pot-ale (the yeast-rich liquid left after distilling) being spread on local fields as fertiliser. Royal Lochnagar also has a zero waste to landfill policy. Sustainability has always been such a huge part of our culture here at Royal Lochnagar and we’re delighted to have received this incredible award from the Green Tourism board. We’ve been working hard to exceed our sustainability targets to ensure a greener future for our local community and beyond. Our staff are passionate about creating a greener business and helping us come up with new ways to ensure we’re doing the best we can.
We’re pleased to have consulted Euan’s Guide to ensure that we provide disabled access information upfront to give all our visitors the confidence to visit our distillery and enjoy the experience. Please do let us know if you have any specific requirements at the time of your booking and a member of staff will be in touch.
Accessible Parking
We have 2 disabled parking spaces in our car park. There are no obstacles between these spaces and our entrance.
Accessible Areas
Visitors can enter our main entrance via a ramp. Royal Lochnagar is all on one level so we do not have a lift. Unfortunately, due to the layout of the historic distillery, some areas of our tour route are not fully accessible. This includes the mill room, mash house and tun room which are on the upper levels of the distillery. We do have an iPad to show visitors a video of the process that takes place in these rooms as an alternative. The lower levels of the distillery, spirit safe and warehouse are all accessible and on one floor. We are happy to tailor our tours to accommodate all visitors for the best possible experience.
Accessible Toilets
An accessible toilet is available with handrails and a red cord.
Children
Please note that we can accommodate a maximum of 16 people per group (advanced booking required) and children under the age of 8 are not permitted on tours due to health & safety reasons.
Guests planning to visit with a dog are advised to check current policies with the distillery before arrival.
Telephone | 01339 742700
Email | Royal.Lochnagar@malts.com
Royal Lochnagar Distillery FAQs
Royal Lochnagar Distillery is located near the village of Crathie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, just one mile from Balmoral Castle and within the scenic region of Royal Deeside at the edge of the Cairngorms National Park.
Yes. The distillery welcomes visitors throughout most of the year and offers guided tours and whisky tastings that explore its history, production methods, and signature Highland single malt.
Advance booking is recommended, particularly during peak tourist seasons or when visiting Royal Deeside and Balmoral Castle. Booking ahead helps ensure availability for your preferred tour time.
In many cases, visitors can still access the distillery shop and visitor centre areas without joining a guided tour. Availability may vary, so it is best to check with the distillery before arrival.