The Ultimate Guide To Whisky Royal Warrants

If you’ve ever been curious about the relationship between Royal Warrants and Scotland’s whisky industry, this ultimate guide explores whisky’s Royal Warrant holders past and present.
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Royal Warrants offer a fascinating insight into the private tastes of Britain’s monarchy, including palace drinking preferences. King Charles III’s May and December 2024 Royal Warrants maintain strong ties to Scotland’s whisky industry, embracing distillers, blenders, and bottlers. Since King William IV granted the first distillery Royal Warrant to Royal Brackla in 1833, an enduring royal connection and patronage to the whisky industry has evolved through the reigns of successive monarchs.

If you’ve ever been curious about the relationship between Royal Warrants and Scotland’s whisky industry, this ultimate guide explores whisky’s Royal Warrant holders past and present.

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What Is A Royal Warrant of Appointment?

A British Royal Warrant of Appointment is a sign of recognition for a company’s products, approved and granted by the UK royals. The first warrants (then known as Royal Charters) were granted to England’s trade guilds, the first was granted to Henry II of England to the Weavers’ Company in 1155. From the 15th Century, Royal Charters became known as Royal Warrants of Appointment.

In the early years, traders and companies were selected to receive Royal Warrants if the monarch liked a product and wished it to carry their warrant as ‘selected and approved by the King/Queen’. 

By the 1800s, holding a Royal Warrant of Appointment was regarded as proof of a company providing products ‘fit for royalty’ – displaying a Royal Warrant gave the public reassurance about the authenticity and quality of products. 

Whilst Royal Warrants are now still regarded as a sign of quality approval bearing the royal seal, these days a granted warrant does not hold the same importance to consumers and companies as in the past – although more than 800 companies continue to have the right to display the crest throughout their business and products.

What Are The Requirements To Hold A Royal Warrant?

As a requirement to qualify for a Royal Warrant, a company has to demonstrate a lasting relationship by supplying goods to the royal household for a period exceeding five years – all these products are paid for by the royal household. 

Historically, products were either selected by the monarch, or Royal Warrants were granted as payment or part of an agreement between the monarch and a trader. Now any company that meets the requirements of supplying the royal household may apply for a warrant – there is no cost for a company to apply.

A British Royal Warrant of Appointment can be granted by the monarch, their spouse, or the heir to the throne, the Prince of Wales. The warrants are issued by the Lord Chamberlin’s Office for five years, after which time they are reviewed – for a product that has failed to remain up to standard, warrants can be withdrawn. 

When a warrant becomes void, companies have 12 months to remove the Royal Warrant from their products. It is illegal for companies to falsely claim to possess a warrant, under the Merchandise Marks Act 1887.

Royal Warrants also automatically become void if the royal ‘Grantor’ of the warrant dies, with companies given an expiration period of two years to remove the warrant from products. This also allows companies wishing to continue displaying the Royal Warrant time to request a renewal be granted by the royal household. The warrants are granted to a company – after which a warrant cannot be changed, extended to a parent or sister company, or transferred to a separate company.   

Whisky Royal Warrants: Current Holders

Berry Bros & Rudd Ltd

The UK’s oldest wine and spirit merchant, Berry Bros & Rudd was established in 1698. Originally a tea merchant and coffee house, Berry Bros & Rudd diversified into both a grocers’ shop, as well as a wine and spirit merchant. The company’s flagship store is situated in close proximity to St James Palace, the main royal residence of the British monarchy between 1698 and the 1830s – Berry Bros & Rudd first supplied the British Royal Family under George III in 1760.

In 1903, Berry Bros & Rudd received their first Royal Warrant granted by King Edward VII. Queen Elizabeth II granted the company her warrant in 1952, while the future king, Charles III granted Berry Bros & Rudd his first warrant while Prince of Wales in 1998. In May 2024, King Charles III renewed Berry Bros & Rudd’s warrant. Whilst wine is the company’s main focus, Berry Bros & Rudd is well known for a selection of independently bottled whiskies.

The Laphroaig Distillery (D. Johnston & Co.) 

Islay’s Laphroaig Distillery was established in 1815, by brothers Alexander and Donald Johnston. Laphroaig’s ownership passed between the Johnston family, with the distillery inherited by Ian Hunter in 1927, who formed the company D. Johnston & Co. in 1950. Laphroaig is still operated by D. Johnston & Co, although the distillery is now owned by the parent company, Beam Suntory.

Long rumored to be King Charles III’s favorite whisky, Laphroaig received a Royal Warrant after the then Prince of Wales visited and toured the distillery in 1994. In celebration of the honor, Laphroaig released a limited-edition 10 Year Old expression named ‘Royal Warrant’. Since receiving the warrant, Laphroaig has also produced a special bottling for the King’s Highgrove estate – both for the King’s own consumption and for exclusive sale in the estate shop. King Charles III is also a member of the Laphroaig Appreciation Society, possibly leading the monarch to promptly renew the warrant for D. Johnston & Co. in May 2024.  

The Royal Lochnagar Distillery

The closest distillery to the Royal Family’s Balmoral Estate, Royal Lochnagar is the only current Royal Warrant holder using the prefix ‘Royal’ in its name. In 1845, John Begg established the New Lochnagar distillery. 

After Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased Balmoral in 1848, Begg invited the royal couple to tour the distillery – a visit which ended with Queen Victoria granting a Royal Warrant, and the distillery was soon renamed Royal Lochnagar.

Royal Lochnagar stopped displaying its warrant on packaging between the 1970s and 1980s, instead a crest on bottle labels, suggesting the distillery may have lost its warrant during this period. 

In January 2022, Royal Lochnagar received a Royal Warrant from Queen Elizabeth II, which was subsequently renewed by King Charles III in December 2024.

Johnnie Walker (John Walker & Sons Ltd) 

The best-selling blended scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker was granted its first Royal Warrant by King George V in 1934, in recognition of the enduring quality and popularity of the blend. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the warrant Johnnie Walker released the King George V blend in 2007, created using only whisky from distilleries active during the king’s reign (1910-1936) – including malt from Port Ellen.

John Walker & Sons’ warrant has been renewed by successive monarchs, including King Charles III in December 2024. As John Walker & Sons Ltd remains an active subsidiary company of brand owner Diageo, the warrant does not extend to other Diageo brands. 

Justerini & Brooks Ltd 

Justerini & Brooks is a wine and spirit merchant established in St. James’s in 1749, originally supplying London’s aristocratic households. In 1761, Justerini & Brooks received their first Royal Warrant from King George III, an honor renewed by each successive monarch including King Charles III in December 2024.

Justerini & Brooks acquired the Knockando distillery in 1962, which now serves as the brand home for the company’s popular blend J&B. Whilst Justerini & Brooks continues as a subsidiary company of multi-national beverage giant Diageo, the Knockando single malt bottlings and J&B blend can display the warrant on the product labels.

The Famous Grouse (Matthew Gloag & Sons) 

Matthew Gloag established a grocers’ shop in 1800, with the family company creating The Famous Grouse blend in 1896. Matthew Gloag & Sons was granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Elizabeth II in 1984, with The Famous Grouse amongst the Queen’s favorite whiskies – although the blend was the signature drink of Princess Margaret. The Royal Warrant was renewed by King Charles III in December 2024.

Currently, Matthew Gloag & Sons and The Famous Grouse blend are owned by Macallan owner, The Edrington Group – although in September 2024 Edrington reached an agreement to sell The Famous Grouse brand to William Grant & Sons which may result in an uncertain future for the Royal Warrant.  

Whisky Royal Warrants: Past Holders 

Royal Brackla 

The first distillery ever to receive a Royal Warrant, granted by King William IV in 1833. Originally known as Brackla, the distillery was founded by Captain William Fraser in 1812 – upon receiving the warrant Brackla was promptly renamed as ‘Royal Brackla’ and advertised as ‘The King’s Own Whisky’. The warrant was renewed on the accession of Queen Victoria, despite Fraser allegedly being fined for failing to pay excise duty on his whisky.

Owned by Bacardi since 1998, a rebranded range of Royal Brackla single malt bottlings was launched in 2019 – featuring a crown crest it is evident that Bacardi’s marketing of the brand still heavily relies on Royal Brackla’s past royal status and reputation.

Glenury Royal 

The Glenury Distillery was founded by Captain Robert Barclay Allardice in 1825. In 1835, King William IV granted a Royal Warrant to the distillery, alongside the right to use the suffix ‘Royal’. The warrant was renewed by Queen Victoria, and Glenury Royal became officially known as ‘Distiller to Her Majesty’. It’s unknown when Glenury Royal’s warrant expired, although the distillery’s single malt bottlings never displayed the warrant. In the 1980s ‘Whisky Loch’, Glenury Royal was one of nineteen distilleries that closed permanently.

Hill, Thomson & Co 

In 1793, William Hill established a grocers’ shop and spirit merchants in Edinburgh which became renowned for quality blends, receiving a Royal Warrant from King William IV in the 1830s. Queen Victoria renewed the company’s warrant in 1838. Hill, Thomson & Co. produced the blended scotch whiskies, ‘Something Special’ and ‘Queen Anne’, which both displayed the Royal Warrant. 

In 1998, Hill, Thomson & Co. was acquired by Pernod Ricard with the warrant becoming void – the Queen Anne blend was discontinued, but Something Special is still part of Pernod Richard’s brands although the blend now displays a crest on the label.  

Chivas Brothers 

Credit: Chivas Brothers

Grocers James and John Chivas first received a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria in 1843, as suppliers to the Royal Household. In 1884, Queen Victoria renewed the warrant naming the Chivas Brothers – the company became widely known for regal-inspired blended whiskies including, Royal Strathythan, Chivas Regal, and Royal Salute, each featuring labels inspired by royal icons and heraldry. 

It’s unknown when the Chivas Brothers warrant expired, although the Chivas Regal blend displayed the warrant until the late 1980s – the label gradually changed to a crest design during the 1990s.

George Ballantine & Sons

George Ballantine was a grocer and spirit blender, who established the family business George Ballantine & Sons in Glasgow in 1865. Ballantine’s was granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1895, with the company awarded the ‘Grant of Heraldic Arms’ in 1938 – which is still displayed on bottlings today.

George Ballantine & Sons’ warrant was most likely not renewed by King George V when the monarch took the throne in 1910. This is evident by Ballantine’s continued use of the phrase, ‘By Appointment to The Late Queen Victoria / The Late King Edward VII’ – this was only discontinued from packaging in the 1990s.

White Horse Distillers Ltd 

Whisky magnate Peter Mackie was a pioneer of the blended scotch whisky industry and owner of the Lagavulin distillery from 1889. In 1890, Mackie launched the White Horse blend named after the family coaching inn, using Lagavulin as the main component malt. 

King Edward VII granted a Royal Warrant to Peter Mackie’s distilling and blending operation in 1908, encompassing the White Horse brand and the Lagavulin and Glen Elgin distilleries.

Following Mackie’s death in 1924, the company was renamed White Horse Distillers Ltd. The company’s warrant was renewed by George V, George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II, until the company White Horse Distillers Ltd was removed from use in 2000 – voiding the Royal Warrant. In 2010, White Horse Distillers Ltd was dissolved by the parent company, Diageo.

Whisky Royal Warrants: Status Unknown

John Dewar & Sons Ltd 

The most consistently awarded brand is John Dewar & Sons Ltd. a whisky blending company established in 1846, which received a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria in 1893. When Alexander and Tommy Dewar founded the Aberfeldy Distillery in 1896, the Dewar blends found a brand home, and the warrant was expanded to also encompass the distillery. Whilst John Dewar & Sons Ltd as a subsidiary of Bacardi now also owns the Aultmore, Craigellachie, Macduff (Deveron), and Royal Brackla distilleries, the company’s Royal Warrant does not extend to them.

After Queen Victoria’s death and the accession of King Edward VII, John Dewar & Sons’ Royal Warrant was renewed, a tradition continued by each successive monarch – although the company was conspicuously absent from the list of warrants granted by King Charles III in May and December 2024. 

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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