Royal Salute

With age statements that start at 21 years old, the mantra of Royal Salute is ‘begin where other whiskies end’.

To celebrate the Queen’s coronation in 1953 Charles Julian, Chivas Brothers’ master blender, took inspiration from the traditional 21-gun salute used to mark royal occasions. It was decided that Royal Salute should kick off with a 21-year-old, made using whiskies laid down in the 1920s and ‘30s. Wealthy consumers in Asia have been key to its success, and the brand is a major polo sponsor. Its spiritual home of the brand is Strathisla in Keith, and select casks have been put aside in the Royal Salute Vault at the distillery to mark future celebrations. In 2002 whisky was drawn from the stash to produce Royal Salute 50-year-old for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. A decade later Chivas Brothers master blender, Colin Scott, created Royal Salute Tribute to Honour to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Just 20 porcelain decanters were released, encrusted with over 400 diamonds and priced at US$200,000 (£150,000) a pop. In 2015 Chivas Brothers marked yet another royal occasion with the launch of The Royal Salute Age Collection, a limited edition set of 10 blended Scotch whiskies, released to celebrate the Queen’s 63rd year on the throne – the longest reign of any British monarch.