The Royal Salute 24-Year Old Cognac Cask Finish is an Asia-exclusive release that sees the iconic premium Scotch blended whisky further matured in cognac barrels.
Premium blended Scotch whisky Royal Salute has unveiled in Singapore its Royal Salute 24-Year Old Cognac Oak Cask Finish. This special limited-edition drop has been aged in French oak casks that previously held cognac, the first time it has done so.
For those not too familiar with the brand, Royal Salute was originally conceived by Chivas Brothers as a gift for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth back in 1953. Over the years it has evolved into a line of premium whiskies that pay tribute to the ideals of British royalty and monarchy; for example, the Royal Salute 30 Year Old Key to the Kingdom launched two years ago in our market celebrates the tradition where the Queen would be presented with the keys to the City of Edinburgh at the Holyrood Palace whenever she makes a royal visit.
This release surprisingly deviates from that tradition.
Surprising because England and France have long been bitter enemies over the course of history. Fun fact: During the 18th and 19th centuries, both nations were engaged in a period of conflict, which included numerous trade wars and embargoes. During this period, many English consumers turned to drinking Scotch whisky as a way to boycott French cognac, accelerating the growth of the then-nascent Scotch whisky industry.
But grudges fade, and the love for drinking – and making – good whisky lasts forever.
To make Royal Salute 24-Year Old Cognac Cask Finish, Master Blender Sandy Hyslop crafted together a blend including single malts from the renowned distilleries of Longmorn and Strathisla that have aged for a minimum of 24 years, and then further matures it in rare first-fill cognac casks made of French oak. Which shouldn’t be too difficult to source, considering Chivas Regal’s brand owner Pernod Ricard, a French company, also owns Martell.
The result, according to Royal Salute, comes with “a gold-copper hue that emits aromas of dark cherries and toasted oak, followed by a sweet beckoning of marzipan, rich caramelised figs and peaches in syrup”. The extra maturation, it adds, offers fruity flavours such as summer berry compote and apricot jam, while a lingering touch of nutmeg add complexity and length.
This limited edition release comes housed in Royal Salute’s signature ceramic flagon, but this time glazed in a bold red that “symbolises success, royalty and auspiciousness in Asian cultures”. Because, you know, Asia.
The interior of the accompanying box is also illustrated with imagery of oriental birds and flowers, although hidden among them are silhouettes of Strathisla distillery and the Tower of London to represent the whisky’s origins. But try as I might, I did not spot any depiction of the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe.
The Asia-exclusive Royal Salute 24 Year Old Cognac Cask Finish is now available in Singapore for purchase at select retailers that includes FairPrice Finest (Clarke Quay and Centrepoint), and dine and drink venues such as Paradise Group outlets and HighHouse. The bottle will also be available for purchase on official Pernod Ricard stores on Shopee and Lazada stores, as well as its VIP Platform Le Cercle with the retail price of S$350.
Official Tasting Notes – Royal Salute 24-Year Old Cognac Cask Finish (40% ABV)
Colour Copper gold.
Nose Dark cherries, toasted oak, followed by sweet marzipan, rich caramelised figs, luscious lemon curd and peaches in syrup.
Palate Summer berry compote, apricot jam, set blossom honey, rich creamy caramel and a hint of freshly ground nutmeg.
Finish Long and rich, with a hint of spice.
Follow us on Telegram to get updated on events and other spirited announcements!
