The English Whisky Royal Marriage 2011 Bottling
70cl / 46%
£199.00
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: England
- Chilfiltered: No
- Coloring: No
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An Ibisco-style decanter bottling crafted from bourbon, rum and port casks to celebrate the 2011 Royal Wedding.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | St George’s (The English Distillery) / Distillery bottling / England, Norfolk |
| Category | Single Malt English Whisky |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | Not stated / 2011 / bottled 14 March 2011 |
| ABV & Size(s) | 46% / 70cl |
| Cask / Treatment | Marriage including bourbon, rum and port casks (mix of peated and unpeated parcels referenced by retailers at the time) |
| Natural Colour | Recorded by independent databases as uncoloured |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Recorded by independent databases as NCF |
| Cask Strength | No |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Contemporary reports suggest c. 3,600 bottles; producer did not print a definitive number on all packs |
| Intended channel | Global specialist retail |
| Packaging | Ibisco-style decanter (and standard bottle seen in some markets), commemorative tin |
| Notes on discrepancies | Some retailers described inclusion of Portuguese red wine casks; primary references consistently cite bourbon/rum/port. |
Historical Context
Released for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on 29 April 2011, this was one of the earliest modern English commemorative single malts. It was assembled by distillery manager David Fitt from an eclectic cask mix reflecting experimentation in the distillery’s early years. The use of an Ibisco-style decanter signalled a keepsake orientation while keeping ABV at a drinker-friendly 46%.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
2.1 Documented variants
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Royal Marriage 2011, 46% 70cl, Ibisco decanter with tin (common).
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Royal Marriage 2011, 46% 70cl, standard bottle (less seen; likely market-dependent packaging).
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Barcode recorded: 5060199680433.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46% | 70cl (Ibisco decanter) | UK/EU | 2011 wedding; decanter + tin | High (presentation) |
| 46% | 70cl (standard bottle) | Select markets | 2011 wedding; paper label bottle | Moderate to high (rarer sighting; condition-dependent) |
2.2 Packaging & authenticity checklist
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Decanter: Ibisco-style with heavy glass base; ensure correct shoulder shape and 46%/70cl print; check stopper fit and seal integrity.
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Outer: Commemorative tin; label alignment and embossing quality; some tarnishing is common.
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Stickers: UK duty stamp for domestic releases; export may show importer stickers.
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Codes: Bottled 14/03/2011 appears in independent records; not all labels bear the exact date.
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Pitfalls: Decanter low-fill risk due to wider shoulder; avoid tins with corrosion; confirm that decanter and tin belong together (matching graphics).
2.3 Regulatory/terminology notes
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Single malt English whisky; NAS; 46% not cask strength.
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NCF/natural colour recorded by databases; not always explicitly printed by producer on front label.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
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Nose: Shortbread and citrus cream; white chocolate; ginger spice; raisin tones.
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Palate: Creamy texture; Seville orange and vanilla pod; mixed wood spice; touches of anise.
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Finish: Warming spice, medium length, light citrus fade.
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With water: Cream and vanilla broaden; spice softens; raisin note becomes more apparent.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
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Original RRP (GBP): £80 (typical specialist retail at the time).
-
Current UK retail range (GBP, incl. VAT): Occasional listings £80–£270 depending on presentation (standard bottle vs decanter) and condition; most retailers now OOS.
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Recent UK/EU auction range (GBP, hammer): ~£55 (Whisky.Auction historic sale) to low three figures for pristine decanter sets; availability intermittent.
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Pricing stratification: Decanter in excellent condition with tin commands premium over standard bottle; presence of any original collateral (leaflet) adds modest uplift.
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Liquidity & sourcing note: Appears in UK auctions periodically; genuine retail stock is largely exhausted.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Whisky Vault (retail) | Historic | 70cl, 46% (standard bottle) | £80 | OOS; indicative RRP |
| Whisky.Auction | Various (example) | 70cl, 46%, tin | £55 | Hammer; minor tin tarnishing noted |
| Lochs of Whisky (retail) | 2024–25 | 70cl, 46% decanter | £269.99 | Stock fluctuates |
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
The English Distillery matured and bottled on site in Norfolk, employing both unpeated and peated spirit streams in the era. A broad cask policy (bourbon dominant, with trials in rum/port/red wine) underpinned the early decade. Visitor centre and on-site bottling supported numerous limited editions and commemoratives.
Sourcing
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Target formats/eras to prefer
Decanter + tin sets in excellent cosmetic order; documented 2011 bottle date; standard bottle examples with intact tin are fine alternatives. -
Red flags to avoid
Low fills, missing or ill-fitting stoppers, mislabeled ABV/size; tins with heavy rust. -
Condition thresholds (fill/box/labels)
High shoulder fill; clean label; tin with minimal dents; working closure. -
Margin/velocity expectations — qualitative
Steady demand among English whisky and royal memorabilia buyers; expect reasonable turnover when priced inside recent auction bands.
