It is one of the oldest whisky distilleries in Scotland, dating back to 1797. Now Aberdeenshire whisky brand Glen Garioch has been served by King Charles to a visiting state dignitary for the first time - in a nod to its Japanese owner. Advertisement Advertisement Sign up to our daily newsletter , get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more.
On this week’s state visit to the UK, Emperor Naruhito of Japan and his wife, Empress Masako, were presented with a pair of gold and silver cups. However, instead of anointing the beakers with a drop of Laphroaig whisky, as is customary, the King opted to present them with a bottle of Glen Garioch . The brand is owned by Suntory Global Spirits, a subsidiary of Japanese beverage company Suntory, itself the third largest producer of distilled drinks worldwide, behind Diageo and Pernod Ricard .
In 2021, when he was the Duke of Rothesay, the King dedicated a new direct-fired still at the distillery when he visited Glen Garioch following a £6 million refurbishment. Robbie Millar, president of Global Whiskies and Prestige at Suntory Global Spirits, said: “We’re honoured that HRH The King chose a bottle of Glen Garioch as a gift to His Majesty The Emperor of Japan. “Only ever produced in small.
