A KING THIS TIME

 IT’S CORONATION TIME AGAIN

Saturday 6 May 2023 will mark the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla and spirits brands have snapped up the opportunity to celebrate with some commemorative releases. King Charles III is known to favour whisky, gin and gin-based cocktails. It is no surprise that both whisky and gin brands have leapt at the opportunity to release numerous commemorative bottlings and are producing spirits to mark the occasion of King Charles’ ascension to the throne, and, as expected, even the pre-mixed cocktail category has jumped on the bandwagon.

Since Charles III quite enjoys his whisky, I will stick to this spirit throughout the article. He has visited numerous Scotch distilleries during his official engagements, and as Prince Charles, he granted his Royal Warrant to Laphroaig Distillery in 1994. Quite a few distilleries are releasing special commemorative whiskies to mark the occasion, ranging from the exorbitant to some whiskies that will suit the budgets of mere commoners. Understandably, these coronation whiskies are mainly available in the UK and some will sell out quickly. Whisky lovers across the globe should be able to source some of these bottles online for international delivery or seek them out at auction.

THE CORONATION SPECIALS LINEUP

• Royal Salute Coronation of King Charles III Edition 52.3% £20,000
• Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection 1948 50.4% £25,000
• The Mark Littler Coronation Reserve (distilled at Macallan) 27 YO 41% £2,599
• Highgrove Coronation Whisky Private Cask 50.2% £295
• Glenfarclas 12 YO 43% £85.99
• The English Coronation 46% £84.95
• Fortnum & Mason’s Coronation Royal Brackla 12 YO 46% £97.50
• The Great Drams Blended Cask Series King Charles III Coronation Blend 50.2% £55 50Cl
• The Great Drams Single Cask Series Coronation 2023 Special Edition Girvan 15 YO 48.2% £65
• Bimber The King’s Cask 52.2% £85
• Wolfburn 7 YO Coronation Special Single Malt 57.8% £69.99
• Bladnoch Limited Edition Tokaji ‘Kings Wine’ cask 47.7% £180
• Balmoral Royal Lochnagar Coronation Edition 48% £360

Royal Salute – King Charles III Edition

The coronation of King Charles III also marks a new era for this Scotch whisky brand at the end of the first quarter of a new century, as it was first created as a gift for Queen Elizabeth II for her coronation last century in 1953. That year, Chivas Brothers released their first Royal Salute blended Scotch whisky as a gift to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in honour of her Coronation. Seventy years later and the Speyside-based brand further honours the British Monarchy with its latest limited-edition expression, the Royal Salute Coronation of King Charles III Edition.

This is the perfect occasion to reflect on the innovative approach Chivas Brothers has taken to blending whisky for the past 70 years while looking forward to what can be achieved in the years to come. Royal Salute Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop, in an announcement on 01 May 2023, stated that this blend would consist of 53 rare malt and grain whiskies—all a minimum of 21 years old—reflecting the year Royal Salute was first crafted.

As one would expect, advancement in technology and technique would see The Royal Salute Coronation of King Charles III Edition offer a more rich and complex expression than the original Royal Salute 21-Year-Old Signature Blend for Queen Elizabeth II, with aromas of fresh red currants, dark chocolate praline and freshly roasted chestnuts, as well as a palate of sweet figs, fresh ginger and a long finish. Their flavour profiles are distinct, as the original expression had a blend of vanilla and orchard fruits crowned with subtle notes of sherry and a wisp of smoke in the finish, whereas the new expression has more of a spicy finish with elevated sweet and fruity notes, having been finished for more than two years in a first fill Spanish oak Oloroso sherry butt.

Presented in a Dartington Crystal, sapphire-tinted decanter, only 500 bottles will be distributed globally, making it highly coveted and a true collectable at a price befitting the occasion. The sapphire hue was used to match the precious stones within the Imperial State Crown while the wooden box encasing the decanter showcases chiselled architectural details inspired by Westminster Abbey, the historic venue of the British Coronation ceremonies since 1066. 

Each country forming the UK is also represented as its crest is used as inspiration for the colourful artwork inside the box, along with an interior message that describes the expression as a celebration of “the legacy, unity and solidarity of the Monarchy.”

The official tasting notes are:

Nose: Fresh redcurrants, homemade strawberry jam, banoffee pie, dark chocolate praline, freshly-roasted chestnuts, clove spice and a hint of charred pineapple.

Palate: A balanced mixed of poached pears, sticky sweet figs, rich toffee, lavish hazelnut chocolate and lively festive spice of fresh ginger, cinnamon and cloves.

Finish: Long and rich with enduring, playful spice on the palate.

The Royal Salute Coronation of King Charles III Edition is available for pre-order on ReserveBar.com at £ 20,000 ($25,000).

Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glen Grant 1948

Gordon & MacPhail has launched a 74-year-old whisky for King Charles III's coronation. The septuagenarian whisky from Glen Grant was filled to cask by Gordon & MacPhail in 1948 – the year of His Majesty's birth. This is a single-cask whisky to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III – which, at 74 years, is just a few months older than the new monarch himself. Timed perfectly down to the year!

The Private Collection 1948 from Glen Grant Distillery was filled into a first-fill sherry cask in April 1948 by Gordon & MacPhail. It was bottled on 15 December, the anniversary of his christening, at a remarkable cask strength of 50.4% ABV after 74 years in the cask. Only 281 bottles of this remarkably rare release will be made available, priced at £25,000 (US$ 31,200).

It comes around a year after Gordon & MacPhail released a 70-year-old single malt to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022. The independent bottler has an existing link to the Monarch, who officially reopened its Benromach Distillery in 1998, when he was the Prince of Wales.

To celebrate the release of its King Charles III Coronation Edition, Gordon & MacPhail will make a donation of £25,000 to the Prince's Foundation, a charity which runs educational and training programmes for people of all ages and backgrounds including arts and heritage craft skills, horticulture, wellbeing, and hospitality.

A spokesman at Gordon & MacPhail said: "This exceptional whisky is a fitting tribute to His Majesty, who has continually promoted and protected British tradition and excellence over many decades. This release has been carefully nurtured for more than 70 years and is a testament to great patience, long-term thinking, and commitment to creating high-quality products – principles that have been handed down through generations of people working for our family business. For more than 50 years, King Charles has placed a firm focus on sustainability and supporting communities. Our donation to the Prince’s Foundation will support his vision of a more sustainable world and aims to help create future legacies."

TASTING NOTES

Colour: amber

Nose: fragrant festive spices complement mulled berries with a hint of raisin. Lemon zest comes to the fore alongside demerara sugar and subtle beeswax polish.

Palate: red apple flavours infused with bitter orange and milk chocolate. Subtle smoke develops, accompanied by fresh peppermint leaves.

Finish: full finish with lingering grapefruit and mature oak.

The Mark Littler Macallan 27-Year-Old Coronation Reserve - Distilled At The Macallan Distillery

Evolving Continuity: The label on this special bottling of 27-year-old Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, distilled at the Macallan Distillery, honours the great Occasion of State which we celebrate today, 06 May 2023, and is, in itself, a grand object of history.

It was Macallan devotee Mark Littler’s idea to honour the talents Macallan had pressed into service for their own advertising and labels in the past by employing them to design and write this one.

An original doodle for a possible Coronation bottling was drawn up almost a decade ago by distinguished designer and artist David Holmes, intrinsic to Macallan publicity design from 1978 to 1994 and designer of prized Macallan labels including, famously, the legendary 1926 60-Year-Old Bottling. When David died in 2018, the sketch was lost. It was his son Toby Holmes who unearthed it and adapted it for its reincarnation.

It is a fitting way to propose a toast to the new-crowned Charles III and to a 1,000-year-old Coronation tradition with Macallan’s own version of evolving continuity.

The Artwork: The main label on this commemorative bottling is based on a sketch found in David Holmes' studio following his death in 2018 and has been adapted for use on this bottle by David’s son Toby Holmes.

The label features many references to British Heraldry.  Some of the elements include the flags of the four nations: St. George's Cross, St. Andrew's Cross (also known as the Saltire), The Red Dragon (Y Ddraig Goch) and St. Patrick's Saltire

Other references include a Tudor rose (which is a combination of The Red Rose of Lancaster and the White Rose of York), Acorns and oak leaves (which are used in the heraldry and symbolism of the British royal family due to their association with strength, endurance, and longevity) and St Edward's Crown, the current version of which was made in 1661 for the coronation of King Charles II, following the restoration of the monarchy.

This is an incredible 27-year-old single cask, cask strength single malt whisky distilled at the Macallan distillery and independently bottled by Mark Littler LTD on behalf of their client.

Just 90 bottles of this exceptional whisky have been bottled to honour the great occasion of state, the coronation of King Charles III on the 6th of May 2023 priced at £2,599.

Distillery: Macallan

Bottler: Mark Littler LTD

ABV: 41%

Edition: 90 individually numbered bottles

Certificates: Each bottle is accompanied by a signed and numbered Certificate of Authenticity, a copy of the original David Holmes sketch and a commemorative celebration card.

This bottle is being sold by a client who has appointed Mark Littler LTD to act as their agent. The seller is not a VAT-registered business and there is no VAT included in the purchase price nor is there any VAT to pay.

Tasting Notes

Colour: Blonde
Nose: Lemon meringue, marzipan, malty biscuits, malting floor. Soft caramel and toffee. A gentle saltiness to counter all of the sweetness, fresh pine wood, and pineapple.
Palate: More creaminess and fresh lemon zest. The barley notes are wonderful and quite a contrast from the regular Macallan style. A biscuit note runs through the whole development, accompanied by subtle sweet notes of brown sugar, coconut, banana, and pineapple.
Finish: More fresh barley and malty creaminess.

Summary: A very subtle and easy-drinking Macallan that is the epitome of what ex-American oak Macallan is all about; loads of sweet, creaminess with a long but gentle finish.

Please note that this whisky will be available exclusively through a ballot.

Highgrove Gardens and The Cotswolds Distillery – Coronation Whisky

Highgrove Gardens have created a very special release of single malt whisky with the Cotswolds Distillery, the award-winning distillery located in the Cotswolds area of outstanding natural beauty. This rich and fruity whisky has been created using Plumage Archer barley grown on the Highgrove Estate and was distilled, matured, and bottled in the Cotswolds. Limited to just 340 bottles, this unique release comes from a specially selected shaved, toasted, and re-charred ex-red wine cask. This highly active cask gives a rich and intense maturation to the fruity new make spirit, offering strong notes of toffee, chocolate, and red fruits, as well as a beautiful deep colour. The whisky has a commemorative Coronation label and is presented in a bespoke box to mark this historic occasion. The cask was filled in May 2017 and bottled in March 2023.

This release is available to purchase exclusively from The Highgrove Shop at Highgrove Gardens. All profits from sales of the whisky will support The Prince’s Foundation for its charitable delivery of education and training initiatives.

Tasting Notes for the Coronation Cask

Nose: baked pears, nutmeg, treacle
Palette: toasted oak, cacao, candied orange
Finish: sweet, rich, touch of clove spice
The Highgrove Coronation Single Malt Whisky is bottled at 50.2% and has an RRP of £295 (US$366.70).

Bladnoch Tokaji 'King's Cask' King Charles III's Coronation Special

Bladnoch Distillery is celebrating the coronation of King Charles III will the release of a single cask expression. The special release from the Lowlands distillery will be available from the day of the coronation.

An 1817 distillery, Bladnoch has had its fair share of ups and downs, remaining closed longer than it was open. Bladnoch reopened in 1956, was expanded to four stills in 1966, became part of Inver House for a decade, and then in 1983 was bought by Arthur Bell & Son. After Bell’s take over it went to Guinness/UD [now Diageo] and production once again slowed. In 1993, it was officially decommissioned.

In July 2015 Australian businessman David Prior, along with ex-Scotch Whisky Association CEO, Gavin Hewitt, purchased Bladnoch and plans to restore the distillery to its former glory. Ahead of its reopening in 2017, three single malts created using existing stocks of Bladnoch (Samsara, Adela and Talia), were released in limited quantities in Australia, the UK and other global markets. Full-fledged production at Bladnoch officially restarted in June 2017, with the flow of a grassy, malty Lowland-style spirit.

Bladnoch has a special connection to His Majesty and the Queen Consort, Camilla, who came to the distillery in the Scottish Lowlands in September 2019 to open its visitor centre and signed their names to a cask during their visit.

For the commemorative coronation release, Bladnoch's master distillery Dr Nick Savage selected a Tokaji 'King's Wine' cask. Tasting notes from the distillery say the whisky has a floral nose and a "rich and fruity" palate. The expression has been bottled at 47.7% ABV, and each of the 289 bottles available has been individually numbered.

This special bottling in honour of King Charles III's coronation is of a whisky that has credentials that are truly fit for a King, as the distillery proudly waits to release this bottle in celebration of this historic occasion. With only 289 bottles available from the single Tokaji wine cask, this release is one of the rarest releases to date for Bladnoch Distillery.

The limited-edition Tokaji 'King's Cask' bottling will be available for purchase at the Bladnoch Distillery and select retailers from 6 May 2023 (recommended price £180). Official tasting notes have not been released either.

 Exclusive Balmoral Royal Lochnagar Coronation Whisky

An exclusive limited-edition Whisky has been unveiled in celebration of King Charles's upcoming coronation. The King’s Aberdeenshire retreat of Balmoral Castle and Estate has announced the launch of its Balmoral Coronation Edition Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The whisky is drawn from specially selected casks from Royal Lochnagar Distillery, a mile from Balmoral, the Scottish home of the Royal Family and recognises the King’s long and fond association with Royal Deeside.   

The first two bottles, in bespoke cases on plinths of Caledonian pine from the Balmoral Estate, have been presented by Balmoral to HM The King and HRH Prince William, Duke of Rothesay

A further 1000 individually numbered bottles, bearing a gold engraving of His Majesty’s Scottish Cypher, are now available for purchase at the price of £360 per. One bottle will be retained as a commemorative record by the Royal Lochnagar Archive.

Aged 18 years, the whisky evokes the pine forests and grassy, floral nature of the surrounding area and is bottled at a strength of 48%. This references the year Charles was born (1948), and the first visit from Balmoral to Royal Lochnagar by the Royal Family- Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, in 1848. The distillery character shines through, mellowed by a long, gentle maturation in refill casks: European oak butts for richness and an American oak hogshead for sweetness. Only five casks were chosen for this exclusive release, priced at £360 per bottle.

Balmoral is obviously delighted to have worked with Royal Lochnagar Distillery, their neighbour on Royal Deeside, to create such an exceptional whisky for the Balmoral Coronation Edition in celebration of the historic crowning of His Majesty King Charles III. Everyone associated with Royal Lochnagar Distillery is very proud of our roots in the Royal Deeside community.

Royal Lochnagar Distillery: Everything about the plant, especially its two small stills and worm tubs, point to this being a classic, ‘heavy’ 19th-century site. Instead, its distilling team works to make it ‘light’. The wort – from a rake and plough mash tun – is clear, something not easy to achieve. Ferments are long, but it is the way in which the stills and worms are utilised which makes the difference.

Distillation is slow to maximise reflux and the stills’ doors are opened after distillation to allow air in to rejuvenate the copper. Meanwhile, the worm tubs are run warm. All this maximises copper conversation and produces a new make with the aroma of dry grass, a background of fruit and mid-palate depth.

On the nose, delicate notes of orchard fruits, freshly cut grass and orange peel emerge with dried ginger and liquorice; the medium-bodied palate is sweet and malty, with an abundance of fresh fruit, creamy butterscotch and oak spice towards the finish. The makers believe that 48% is also the optimal strength for the perfect balance of flavours; with water, the light, fruity notes become more apparent.