Royal Brackla

Introduction:

Situated near Loch Ness in the Northern Highlands, Royal Brackla distillery is known for its limited range of official bottlings, including a 10 – year – old, 12 – year – old, 16 – year – old, and 20 – year – old expression. However, these releases are sporadic rather than part of an ongoing range. The 10 – year – old was a consistent release featured in the Flora & Fauna range but has since been discontinued. In contrast, there is a wide selection of independent bottlings of Royal Brackla, primarily by Cadenheads, with variations in age ranging from 6 to 40 years.

Role in Blended Whisky:

Royal Brackla plays a significant role in Dewars’ Blends and has historical importance in the realm of blended whisky. Andrew Usher, the inventor of blending, conducted his early blending experiments at Royal Brackla. Besides Dewars, Royal Brackla is also used in blends such as Johnnie Walker Gold and Bisset Blends.

Production:

Royal Brackla has a production capacity of 4 million liters, with the majority of its output used for blending purposes. The distillery sources its water from the Cawdor burn.

Pot Stills:

Royal Brackla employs a unique configuration of two wash stills and one spirit still. The wash stills each have a capacity of 22,000 liters per year, while the single spirit still can hold 21,000 liters. The stills have a distinct shape, resembling a combination of tall and Speyside stills, with slightly less rounded spherical lids and long, tall necks. The tall necks allow for high reflux and increased copper exposure during distillation.

The Maltings:

Until 1966, Royal Brackla had its own maltings facility. The malt used in production is lightly peated, with some batches being more heavily peated. Currently, the distillery sources its malt from an industrial supplier in Speyside.

The Warehouse:

Despite having a couple of warehouses on-site, none of Royal Brackla’s whisky matures at the distillery. All maturation takes place at Dewars’ site in South Lanarkshire, which comprises 18 newly constructed warehouses, including both dunnage and racked storage.

History:

Royal Brackla earned its royal name from a royal warrant granted by King William IV in 1835. This distinction, rare among distilleries, elevated its status in the market. Founded in 1812 by Captain William Fraser, the distillery underwent changes in ownership over the years, with major renovations in 1898 and 1997. Bacardi acquired the distillery and the Dewar’s brand from Diageo after a sale prompted by European watchdog obligations. Unfortunately, Royal Brackla is currently closed to the public, and there is no visitor’s center.

Visitor information:

Royal Brackla Distillery
Cawdor
Nairn
IV12 5QY
+44 (0)1667-402002