Throughout history, a select circle of brands have been given the royal stamp of approval—Royal Salute is one of the rare few. Its history is closely intertwined with the British monarchy as it gets: From its inception in 1953 as an opulent tribute to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Royal Salute has maintained a continuous tradition of honouring the royal family through each and every expression.
Even its name pays tribute to the British monarchy’s highest forms of ceremonial honour—the British royal gun salute—which has historically been used to mark important occasions, such as coronations, royal birthdays, royal anniversaries and state visits.
It is one such momentous occasion in the British monarchy’s history that drove the Speyside distillery to release one of its most luxurious whisky collections yet. King Charles III’s ascension to the throne in 2022 was a major celebratory moment seen around the world, and in particular, one highly anticipated programme in the royal coronation stood out: the 62 Gun Salute ceremony. Reserved only for the grandest of royal occasions, this ceremonial honour is traditionally fired from the historic Tower of London to pay respect to the reigning monarch.
Taking inspiration from this significant occasion, the brand unveiled its new collection of three luxurious whiskies: the 62 Gun Salute collection, consisting of the Original, American Oak and Peated Reserves. Hailed as the crown jewel of Royal Salute’s permanent collection, the 62 Gun Salute collection is a labour of love. Conceived by Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, the three expressions contain over 50 of Scotland’s finest malt and grain whiskies, handpicked by Hyslop, and each expression from the range also represents a different facet of the 62 Gun Salute ceremony.
“The crafting process behind this collection was lengthy and meticulous until I was absolutely confident we had blends representative of an authentic 62 Gun Salute ceremony,” Hyslop said. “The collection’s flavour profile is beautifully complex and rounded, connecting all the senses to create a lasting taste experience that reflects the significance of the occasion.”
The Original Reserve stands as a powerful ode to the scale and magnitude of the 62 Gun Salute ceremony, through its explosive taste profile. On the nose, this expression’s bright orange notes burst forth through a cloud of nutty oakiness, before a hint of smoke imbues the whisky with an air of distinction. Meanwhile, the grandeur of the gun salute ceremony is embodied in the bold, rounded flavour of this expression. This is presented through notes of vanilla, crème brûlée and cinnamon. Evocative of the 104-carat Stuart Sapphire in the Crown Jewels, the precious liquid is encased in a deep sapphire blue decanter and features a jewel-inspired closure.
The American Oak Reserve was crafted to symbolise the feelings of strength and power that the 62 Gun Salute ceremony evokes. Housed in a striking red flagon reminiscent of the Black Prince’s Ruby in the Crown Jewels, this expression layers the nuanced fragrances of vanilla fudge and genoise sponge with the syrupy notes of blueberry muffins and homemade strawberry jam. This same multidimensional profile lingers on the palate, where notes of tropical fruit are intertwined with the saccharine flavours of butterscotch, vanilla custard and toasted oak.
Finally, the Peated Reserve, which serves as a nod to the drifting plumes of smoke that accompany each gun salute, is the smokiest of the trio. Swathed in a vivid green bottle—set to mirror the 11 emeralds in the Crown Jewels—the expression opens with whiffs of dark cherries, ripe pears and sweet green apples. Then, rich notes of milk chocolate honeycomb, blossom honey and homemade orange marmalade intensify the whisky on the nose. On the palate, this smoky expression first springs to life through lemon sherbet, tangy orange zest and Jamaican ginger cake, before it all gives way to an enduring wisp of peat smoke.
To further tie in its connection to British royalty, the 62 Gun Salute collection has fittingly found a grand home in the Tower of London. In 2024, Royal Salute made history by becoming the first brand in the world to take up residency at the iconic British stronghold. One of London’s most historic landmarks, the expansive grounds has served as a royal residence through history, and to this day, it safeguards some of the royal family’s most treasured possessions—like the Crown Jewels that inspired the distinctive bottle designs of the 62 Gun Salute collection.
Exclusively reserved for invited guests, this extraordinary locale is now home to Royal Salute’s newest luxury tasting experience. Located in the Martin Tower, the thoughtfully designed tasting room features intricate, floor-to-ceiling illustrations that echo the splendour of the 62 Gun Salute collection and the storied history of the 13th-century tower it calls home. Here, guests will have the thrilling opportunity to sample some of the rarest blends from Royal Salute’s colossal whisky library, including drams from a number of limited-edition collections.
The brand is also not merely keeping royal traditions alive through its masterful blends, but through its contemporary whisky-tasting sessions that every aficionado will truly enjoy. Led by global brand ambassador Nathan Wood, this is a sensorial journey from start to finish. Each guided tasting allows guests to get an inside look at the making of the 62 Gun Salute collection, and to sample that same collection and learn more about it through physical and interactive digital touchpoints. The luxury drinking experience will never be the same.
More information on the 62 Gun Salute collection from Royal Salute can be found here. The Original Reserve and American Oak Reserve can be found at select retailers, including The Whisky Distillery, or via Pernod Ricard’s VIP platform Le Cercle. The Peated Reserve is exclusive to duty-free stores worldwide.
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