Celebrate the Royal Wedding with these Whiskies

The Famous Grouse got its start just as most blended Scotch whiskies got started--by wine & spirits merchants. They would create their own blend to sell to their customers and the most popular ones have withstood the test of time. Famous Grouse was created by Matthew Gloag in 1896 and the bottle still bears his signature. The Edrington Group owns this brand now, along with Highland Park and The Macallan.

This bottling from Crown Royal is the second in the Noble Collection following their Cornerstone Release in 2016. This Canadian whisky uses Crown Royal's De Luxe Whisky as the base and finishes the aging process in former Californian Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. Bottled at 40.5% ABV and available beginning spring 2017 in the US and Canada.

Royal Brackla was the first distillery to receive a Royal Warrant in 1835 from King William IV. During World War II the distillery was taken over by the RAF and used as a school for new pilots. It was renovated in 1966 and was sold to Bacardi-Martini. Today, not much is seen or heard from Royal Brackla because most of it goes into making Dewar's White Label. This 12 year was released in 2015 and is finished in first-fill oloroso sherry casks. Note: As of 2022, the brand has updated its 12 year expression and discontinued this version.

This 15 year old is a blended scotch made from up to 40 different whiskies. The whiskies aged in either ex-bourbon or ex-sherry before being blended all together in oak casks to marry the whisky.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label is blended with old and young whisky and from rare stock containing extinct distilleries. According to parent company Diageo, only one in 10,000 casks makes the cut for inclusion in the blend. Released in 1992, Johnnie Walker Blue has become one of the most recognizable and prestigious whiskies on the market. (SRP $249.99 for 750ml)

Now that you’ve learned about the 21 gun salute (see Royal Salute 21 Year), the 62 gun salute is an exclusive honor that occurs from the Tower of London for Royal anniversaries and special occasions such as the birth of the Royal Baby or Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday. How 62 was the number chosen for these honors is as follows: the standard 21-gun salute, add 20 more for the salute occurring at the Tower of London, which is a Royal Palace & Fortress; and another 21 for the City of London itself. Though this whisky is not 62 years old, the whiskies selected for this blend are at least 40 years old.

Released in spring 2016, Lore is a no-age statement whisky created by John Campbell, Distillery Manager, and their blending team to represent over 200 years of the company's knowledge and traditions, which have been passed down through the generations of distillery managers and custodians, "our story, bottled." The whisky, which they consider to be "the richest ever Laphroaig" is created using a combination of different ages of whiskies (some from as far back as vintage 1993) and types of casks ranging from first-fill sherry, first-fill bourbon, refill bourbon, and whisky finished in European ex-sherry hogshead casks. It is bottled at 48% ABV.