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Royal Salute (whisky)

Royal Salute is a blended Scotch whisky brand produced and bottled by Chivas Brothers in Strathisla Distillery in Speyside, Scotland.[1]

History

Royal Salute was launched by Chivas Brothers on 2 June 1953 by in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her Coronation.[2][3] Named after the ceremonial 21-gun salute that is fired from the Tower of London to mark special royal occasions, Royal Salute whiskies are aged for a minimum of 21 years,[4] making it the only Scotch to begin its collection at exclusively 21 years-old.[3]

Strathisla distillery

The brand's distillery and visitor centre are at the Strathisla distillery, located in Speyside. The distillery was founded in 1786, and it is the oldest working distillery in the Highlands of Scotland.[5][6] The Strathisla distillery is owned by Chivas Brothers, and Strathisla Single Malt is one of the malt whiskies used within the Royal Salute blend.[4]

Brand collaborations

Fashion

Richard Quinn

Royal Salute collaborated with British fashion designer Richard Quinn on a series of limited-edition 21-year-old blended Scotch whiskies as part of its Couture Collection, first unveiled during London Fashion Week in 2021. The initial release featured ceramic flagons decorated with Quinn’s signature floral designs, while a second collaboration introduced a redesigned decanter and blend.[7][8]

Harris Reed

In 2024, Royal Salute collaborated with Harris Reed to create a limited-edition 21-year-old blended Scotch as part of the brand’s Fashion Collection. Reed worked with Master Blender Sandy Hyslop to develop the blend, while the ceramic flagon design drew inspiration from Reed’s signature feathered headpieces. The expression was launched during London Fashion Week and released through selected luxury and travel retail channels.[9][10] A second release, the Harris Reed Edition II, was introduced in 2025 featuring flagon designs inspired by lace motifs and a revised blend.[11][12]

Richard Quinn

Royal Salute collaborated with British fashion designer Richard Quinn on a series of limited-edition 21-year-old blended Scotch whiskies as part of its Couture Collection, first unveiled during London Fashion Week in 2021. The initial release featured ceramic flagons decorated with Quinn’s signature floral designs, while a second collaboration introduced a redesigned decanter and blend.[7][8]

Harris Reed

In 2024, Royal Salute collaborated with Harris Reed to create a limited-edition 21-year-old blended Scotch as part of the brand’s Fashion Collection. Reed worked with Master Blender Sandy Hyslop to develop the blend, while the ceramic flagon design drew inspiration from Reed’s signature feathered headpieces. The expression was launched during London Fashion Week and released through selected luxury and travel retail channels.[9][10] A second release, the Harris Reed Edition II, was introduced in 2025 featuring flagon designs inspired by lace motifs and a revised blend.[11][12]

Polo

Royal Salute has maintained an association with the sport of polo, including collaborations with professional player Malcolm Borwick, who has served as a brand ambassador. The partnership included the release of a series of limited-edition 21-year-old whiskies known as the Polo Collection, beginning with the Polo Edition (2017) and followed by editions inspired by international polo destinations such as Argentina, India and the United States, including the Estancia Edition (2021), Jodhpur Polo Edition (2023), and Miami Polo Edition (2024).[13] A subsequent Rio de Janeiro Polo Edition was released in 2025.[14]

In addition to product releases, the brand sponsored polo events and tournaments, including the Snow Polo World Cup and the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup.[15][16]

Art

Royal Salute has collaborated with contemporary artists through its Art of Wonder programme, which pairs limited-edition whiskies with commissioned artworks. The initiative was launched in 2022 with Forces of Nature by Kate MccGwire, marking the first release in a series designed around collaborations with contemporary artists and inspired by whisky blending.[17][18]

A second edition followed in 2023 with Conrad Shawcross, whose Time Chamber work explored the concept of time through a sculptural installation accompanying a 53-year-old blend.[19][20] The series has been presented at international art events, including exhibitions at Frieze London.[21]

Awards

Royal Salute has received awards at a number of international spirits competitions such as the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), the International Spirits Challenge (ISC), and the World Whiskies Awards (WWA).

External links

References

  1. Royal Salute Blended Scotch Whiskies www.chivasbrothers.com, retrieved 2022-03-22^
  2. The Story of Royal Salute Scotch Whisky - Royal Salute royalsalute.com, retrieved 2022-03-22^
  3. Charles MacLean. Great Whiskies Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2011^
  4. Royal Salute | Scotch Whisky scotchwhisky.com, retrieved Jan 8, 2023^
  5. ANDRE DE ALMEIDA. The World's Oldest Scotch Whisky Distillery Inside The Cask, 2017-05-03, retrieved 2019-12-21^
  6. Distilleries - Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Course - Nestled in the heart of Aberdeenshire's tranquil countryside^
  7. Royal Salute and Richard Quinn launch second collaborative expression whiskymag.com, retrieved 2026-03-23^
  8. Tom Shearsmith. Richard Quinn and Royal Salute's Mathieu Deslandes on the importance of cross-industry collaboration TheIndustry.fashion, 2022-04-29, retrieved 2026-03-23^
  9. Royal Salute heralds start of London Fashion Week with Harris Reed collaboration whiskymag.com, retrieved 2026-03-04^
  10. Inside Royal Salute's New Fashion Collection Whisky Collaboration With Harris Reed^
  11. Royal Salute Introduces The 21 Year Old Harris Reed Edition II, a Fusion of Couture and Exceptional Whisky Craft – The Luxury Editor retrieved 2026-03-10^
  12. Written by. Royal Salute launches its latest Fashion Collection release The Whisky Wire, 2025-12-01, retrieved 2026-03-10^
  13. Carrie Coolidge. Miami Polo Is Royal Salute’s Newest Edition Forbes, retrieved 2026-03-24^
  14. Miona Madsen. Royal Salute unveils new Polo edition The Spirits Business, 2025-04-01, retrieved 2026-03-24^
  15. 39th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2024 - Two New Team Sponsors SSN, retrieved 2026-03-24^
  16. Melody Ng. Royal Salute adds a regal touch to The Sentebale Polo Cup Moodie Davitt Report, 2011-06-14, retrieved 2026-03-24^
  17. New Series Led By Royal Salute’s Forces of Nature By Kate MccGwire - The Whiskey Wash thewhiskeywash.com, retrieved 2026-03-24^
  18. Simon Wittenberg. Royal Salute's Stunning 53 Year Old Forces Of Nature By Kate MccGwire Whisky 2022-10-24, retrieved 2026-03-24^
  19. Royal Salute unveils second Art of Wonder release whiskymag.com, retrieved 2026-03-24^
  20. Simon Wittenberg. Royal Salute Forms A Timely Partnership With Conrad Shawcross 2023-09-25, retrieved 2026-03-24^
  21. Kapila Ireland. Royal Salute unveils second expression in Art of Wonder series DFNI, 2023-10-12, retrieved 2026-03-24^
  22. Agile Media. international Spirits Challenge internationalspiritschallenge.com, retrieved 2026-03-04^
  23. Royal Salute IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition, retrieved 2026-03-04^
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  30. Silver – Royal Salute / 62 Gun Salute – World whisky awards 2025^
  31. Bronze – Royal Salute / Cognac Cask Finish 24 Years Old – World whisky awards 2025^
  32. Royal Salute IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition, retrieved 2026-03-18^
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  38. Silver – Royal Salute / 21 Years Old The Signature Blend – World whisky awards 2024^
  39. Bronze – Royal Salute / 24 Years Old Cognac Cask Finish – World whisky awards 2024^
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  51. Bronze – Royal Salute / 21 Years Old The Signature Blend – World whisky awards 2022^
  52. Silver – Royal Salute / 25 Years Old – World whisky awards 2022^
  53. Category Winner – Royal Salute / 21 Years Old The Lost Blend – World whisky awards 2022^
  54. Royal Salute IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition, retrieved 2026-03-19^
  55. Royal Salute IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition, retrieved 2026-03-25^
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  61. Silver – Royal Salute / 62 Gun Salute – World whisky awards 2021^
  62. Gold – Royal Salute / 21 Years Old - The Malts Blend – World whisky awards 2021^
  63. Silver – Royal Salute / 21 Years Old - The Lost Blends – World whisky awards 2021^
  64. Bronze – Royal Salute / 25 Years Old – World whisky awards 2021^
  65. Bronze – Royal Salute / 38 Years Old – World whisky awards 2021^
  66. Royal Salute IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition, retrieved 2026-03-25^
  67. Royal Salute IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition, retrieved 2026-03-19^
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  71. Gold – Royal Salute / 21 Years Old Snow Polo Edition – World whisky awards 2020^
  72. Silver – Royal Salute / 21 Years Old Signature Blend – World whisky awards 2020^
  73. Royal Salute IWSC International Wine & Spirit Competition, retrieved 2026-03-18^
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