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First drinks brands to receive the Royal Warrant announced

13 May 2024 By Sarah Neish

The first drinks companies to receive the prestigious Royal Warrant from King Charles III have been announced. But which ones have made the cut?

The much sought-after Royal Warrant signifies a brand’s status as a purveyor to the Royal Household. To receive the honour, brands must have regularly supplied goods or services for a minimum of five consecutive years to the Royal Household.

Warrant holders have permission to display the Royal Arms and the words ‘By Appointment’ on their products, premises, vehicles and advertising materials.

Previous recipients of the Royal Warrant include: Martini, Bollinger, Pol Roger, Pimms and Moet & Chandon.

This year’s selection was drawn from a list of companies which had previously held a Royal Warrant of appointment to His Majesty in his former role of Prince of Wales. Following the review, some 145 companies spanning all sectors of industry were awarded the official stamp.

Importantly, the business practices of each of the companies has been appraised through the Royal Warrant Sustainability Criteria.

In the drinks retail sphere, King Charles III and Queen Camilla have chosen to bestow the Royal Warrant upon London’s Corney & Barrow, one of the longest established independent wine merchants in the UK.

According to Corney & Barrow, since 1780 its mission has been simple. “To offer the best wines in the world at whatever price level, directly to the end consumer with no intermediaries.”

Corney & Barrow was previously awarded a Royal Warrant in 1981. Among its many achievements of note is becoming the sole supplier of Burgundy’s Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines in the UK in 1992. Corney & Barrow also exclusively supplies England’s Biddenden, Rioja’s Artadi and Napa Valley’s Cakebread Cellars.

Fortnum & Mason and high street favourite Waitrose also received the Royal Warrant this week.

Read on for the drinks brands that will be supplying the Royal Household in 2024 and beyond.

Laurent-Perrier

Champagne Laurent-Perrier was formerly awarded the Royal Warrant by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in 1998, and can now add a Royal Warrant from King Charles III to its roster of accolades.

With its sustainable practices being one of the reasons for the latest royal endorsement, the new announcement makes Laurent-Perrier the only Champagne house to currently bear the Royal Warrant.

“We are deeply honoured to be granted the Royal Warrant from His Majesty the King,” said owners Alexandra and Stéphanie de Nonancourt.

“This accolade reaffirms our longstanding relationship with His Majesty which began when he visited Laurent-Perrier with Lord Mountbatten for the ‘United World Colleges’ with our father back in 1979”.

Among Laurent-Perrier’s portfolio are its Cuvée Rosé and Grand Siècle wines.

Shepherd Neame

The Kentish brewer received its first Royal Warrant in 1998, for its Grant’s Morella Cherry Brandy, a brand which Shepherd Neame acquired 10 years earlier in 1988.

In 2014, the Prince of Wales also gave permission for the Royal Warrant to be used on bottles of Shepherd Neame’s Spitfire Amber Ale, first brewed in 1990 to commemorate the Battle of Britain.

“We have a long association with the Royal Family, and are incredibly proud to be among the first UK businesses to be awarded a Royal Warrant by His Majesty King Charles III,” said Shepherd Neame chief executive Jonathan Neame.

“As Britain’s oldest brewer, we take great pride in preserving the traditions of our long brewing heritage, creating quality products using the finest locally sourced ingredients, so it wonderful to have our efforts recognised with this special honour.”

Shepherd Neame has been based in the market town of Faversham, Kent for more than 300 years. Alongside its British ales, it also brews international lagers under licence including premium Thai lager Singha.

D Johnston & Co

The distiller responsible for Laphroaig Scotch whisky also made it onto this year’s list, having been a favourite tipple of King Charles III for many years.

According to the distiller, “it’s no secret that one of King Charles’ III favourite tipples is Laphroaig”, with the monarch having visited the distillery three times; in 1994 when he first issued Laphroaig with the Royal Warrant, again in 2008 to celebrate his 60th birthday, and finally in 2015 to celebrate the distillery’s 200-year anniversary.

Despite having landed in the lap of US-Japan entity Beam Suntory through a series of mergers and acquisitions, Laphroaig distillery is still operated today under D. Johnston & Co (Laphroaig) Ltd.

“We are truly honoured to have Laphroaig’s commitment to excellence and sustainable practices recognised with a new Royal Warrant,” said Chris Richardson, vice president, Global Scotch & Irish Brands, Suntory Global Spirits. “It’s a testament to the dedication of the entire team at Laphroaig, who work tirelessly to craft our iconic Islay whisky.”

Camel Valley

The Cornwall-based English Sparkling producer, named after its proximity to the Camel River, became the first English vineyard to receive the Royal Warrant in September 2018, and the latest announcement cements its relationship with King Charles III.

Owners Bob and Annie Lindo, who planted their vineyard in 1989, said: “What an honour it is to have been granted new warrants by the King and also the Queen. Her Majesty has taken a keen interest in the development of English wines and as president of Wine GB, which represents the industry, she has been a terrific source of encouragement and enthusiasm. To now have been appointed as one of her first warrant holders is very special.”

Camel Valley wines are sold at Rick Stein’s restaurant and throughout Cornwall, as well as at Waitrose, Fortnum & Mason’s, the Tate Modern and Hakkasan in London.

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