Prince Harry competes during the Royal Salute Polo Challenge benefitting Sentebale at Grand ... [+]
Four Seasons Palm Beach and a charity polo tournament featuring Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, was the setting for the launch of Miami Polo Edition, the newest member of the Royal Salute Polo Collection. Royal Salute’s Polo Collection celebrates inspiring locations connected to the history of ‘The Sport of Kings’ by reflecting these destinations in expertly crafted 21-year-old blended Scotch whiskies. Four Seasons Palm Beach is a five star beachfront resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Royal Salute celebrates Miami with its latest edition as southern Florida is home to the professional polo circuit each winter.
Indeed, while the first three Polo Editions celebrated the different terroir of where polo is played—grass, snow and beach—the latest trio harken iconic destinations where the international polo circuit is played by conveying the cultural dimension related to these specific locations, says Paul-André Vacheron, Global Marketing Director, Ballantine’s and Prestige, who oversees Royal Salute. “The Polo Editions appeal to whisky appreciators who enjoy travel paired with an appreciation of polo,” he says. “The whisky provides a luxury experience, discovery and the idea of a journey.”
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Royal Salute Estancia, finished in Malbec wine casks, was launched in Argentina in 2021. The blend is an homage to Argentinean polo as the country is the birthplace of the majority of the world’s most famous and top ranked professional polo players. This full-bodied blend offers notes of raspberry and blackberry with a hint of cinnamon spice in the background.
Royal Salute’s 21 Year Old Jodhpur Polo Edition was launched in 2023 in Jodhpur, India—the birthplace of modern polo. This blend of special malt whiskies was finished in virgin oak casks and celebrates the rich spices and flavors of India. The blend has notes of sweet mangoes and coconut, caramel and cinnamon cloves with a long and spicy finish.
The Polo Editions transport people to a specific place, says Malcolm Borwick, professional polo player, former captain of the British National Polo team and Royal Salute Brand Ambassador. “In the same way that people want escapism when they look at travel television shows, what we are offering here is a glimpse of a lifestyle in these different places,” says Malcolm Borwick. “We want these whiskies to embody an ideal of what that lifestyle represents.”
Miami Polo Edition is further inspired by Miami’s opulent, extravagant lifestyle and architecture—reflected in the cleverly designed presentation box that is decorated with palm trees, pink flamingos and images of art deco buildings and sleek contemporary skyscrapers. “The packaging really captures and celebrates the dynamic nature of the city,” says Vacheron.
Dana Barnes, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Adolfo Cambiaso and Malcolm ... [+]
Presented in a pink flagon and with a retail price starting at $190, Miami Polo Edition is the first Royal Salute whisky to be fully finished in first-fill rye and first-fill bourbon casks. Aged for a minimum of 21 years, it has notes of sweet vanilla, toffee and coconut flavors from the rye and bourbon casks which are reminiscent of Miami’s golden sandy beaches. The subtle spice from the rye is a nod to Miami’s vibrant, glamorous lifestyle, says its creator, Sandy Hyslop, Master Blender at Royal Salute. A subtle rose petal flavor also comes through as a result of the rye casks. “Miami is such a dynamic city,” says Hyslop. “We wanted to craft a blend that would echo this with an exciting new dimension.”
The Polo Editions, each of which have limited production, offer an opportunity for Royal Salute’s blending department to showcase what its talents. “We can make something quite magnificent without the fear of the difficulty of replicating and keeping it consistent it in the future,” explains Hyslop.
The classic Signature 21 Year Signature Edition, which is the pillar of Royal Salute, has been unchanged since its introduction in 1953. Hyslop, Royal Salute’s fifth master blender since its founding, is responsible for the blend that has been made since the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. “I need to keep the flavor the same batch after batch, year after year,” he says. “That is a big responsibility.”
The launch of Miami Polo Edition coincided with the Royal Salute Polo Challenge, which took place at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Wellington, Florida on April 12. The Royal Salute Sentabale team comprised of Borwick, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, world-renowned 10-goal handicap polo professional, Adolfo Cambiaso Sr. and Dana Barnes.
Prince Harry competes during the Royal Salute Polo Challenge benefitting Sentebale at Grand ... [+]
The tournament raised funds for Sentebale, the non-profit organization benefits vulnerable young people in Lesotho and Botswana (Southern Africa). The non-profit was co-founded by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex and Prince Seesio of Lesotho. A charity dinner following the polo tournament took place at Santa Rita Polo Farm, owned by Marc and Melissa Ganzi, and was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Royal Salute was launched on June 2, 1953 as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her coronation. The brand is named after the traditional 21-gun salute, and every product in the entire Royal Salute portfolio including each of the Limited Edition Polo Edition series, is made with whisky that is aged for a minimum of 21 years.
Miami Polo Edition will be released for a limited time starting this month and is available at select luxury retailers worldwide at an suggested retail price of $190. For more information, follow @royalsalute.
