THE SWEET SCENT OF HISTORY
Royal Salute hosts an exquisite Olfactory Studio experience, merging the world of perfumery with some of the rarest and most precious whiskies ever made
WORDS BY
PHOTOS BY
IT GOES WITHOUT saying that the world as we know it has since been transformed due to Covid-19. The ‘new normal’, a term all of us are now increasingly familiar with, has virtually changed the way we go about our daily lives and interact with one another. However as much as things may have changed in recent months, some things have fortunately remained the same. Just like the assured taste and quality of Royal Salute whiskies.
With social distancing in force and borders across the world still shut, the premiere
Scotch Whisky brand still found a novel way to introduce its latest range in an exclusive showcase for guests here in Malaysia. Held at the historic Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, better known as the Blue Mansion, in Penang, the Royal Salute Olfactory Studio experience was held in honour of the release of the ‘King of Whisky’s’ ultra-rare, limited edition, The Time Series 52-Year-Old Single Cask Finish Scotch.
A Taste Of Prestige & History
Like most Royal Salute events, the specially curated program also included several curated experiences for the media and friends of the brand that were not limited to just Scotch Whiskies. It included, amongst others, a thrilling drive from Kuala Lumpur to Penang in several beautiful Mercedes-Benz cars, a stay and a historic walk through the iconic Blue Mansion in Penang as well as an introduction to the sport of polo, conducted by Dato’
Chevy Beh, the founder of BookDoc and owner of the BP polo club.
The experiential activities undoubtedly complemented each brand well. For starters, the drive served as an opportunity to match three iconic luxury brands together. To coin a phrase, the Royal Salute as well as Mercedes-Benz and Cycle & Carriage have understandably been aged to perfection and over the years have garnered a respectable amount of recognition and following amongst consumers.
Then there is the synonymous tie-in with history, which is represented in true magnificent form with the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. The restored heritage building in Georgetown not only boasts a colourful history but also an unmatched presence, which has made it the subject of numerous accolades over the years. Its striking façade and atmosphere has also made the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion a perfect backdrop and location for films over the years including the 1993 Oscar-winning French film Indochine starring Catherine Deneuve and 2018’s boxoffice hit, Crazy Rich Asians.
In the case of polo, Royal Salute has celebrated the sport of kings for many years, which is understandable considering they both share values of luxury, tradition and prestige. The brand sponsors more than 15 international tournaments from the UK and the USA through Argentina and China to Korea. Royal Salute has also released several 21 Year Old Polo Edition bottles over the years to commemorate that association.
Sips & Scents
Interestingly, despite being steeped in tradition and history, Royal Salute has continuously kept engaged in the modern world by constantly pushing the art of blending into new, creative and ambitious forms. The Royal Salute Olfactory Studio is proof of that forward thinking approach, which has ensured the brand remains at the very top of the whisky world.
Introduced just over a year ago, the brand’s Olfactory Studio has enthralled guests and Scotch whisky aficionados across the world by introducing the parallels the art of blending has with the world of perfumery. In a nutshell, it offers a new perspective on how we as consumers ‘nose’ a whisky in a truly different way.
Designed and developed by world-renowned perfumer and Royal Salute Creative Advisor