Royal Salute

Platinum Jubilee

In what turned out to be something of a swansong, Royal Salute marked the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II, queen of the UK for a momentous 70 years, with a highly exclusive limited release. The luxury blended whisky brand is an intrinsic part of Her Majesty’s history, having been created in 1953 to commemorate her coronation. Director of blending Sandy Hyslop was unrestrained in his pursuit of character, incorporating more than a few lost distilleries in the 32-year blend and finishing it in tawny port casks – the same type of port served at the coronation. This resulted in something incredibly sweet, syrupy and an occasion all on its own.

Just 147 bottles were created and presented in one of seven varieties of hand-blown Dartington crystal decanters. Each of these carried a design that was inspired by one Her Majesty’s brooches, and is packaged in a box that itself was coloured after one of her iconic outfits – a tribute to an icon of our era.