🥃 Royal Salute
Blended Scotch whisky aged 21 years and older, created in 1953 as a tribute to Elizabeth II on her coronation; a Pernod Ricard brand.
Royal Salute is a blended Scotch whisky created in 1953 as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation. According to the producer, it was blended with whisky from the Strathisla distillery and named after the 21-gun salute. The brand is part of Pernod Ricard and is made by Chivas Brothers.
History. According to the producer, the first Royal Salute 21 Year Old was launched in 1953 in a green porcelain flagon. The blue flagon appeared in 1960 and quickly became the most popular; the burgundy one followed in 1984. In 2019 The Malts Blend and The Lost Blend joined the core range, and since 2022 the core expressions come in recyclable coated glass flagons.
How it is made. Under the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, Blended Scotch Whisky is a blend of one or more single malt Scotch whiskies with one or more single grain Scotch whiskies, matured only in Scotland in oak casks of up to 700 litres for at least three years, at a minimum of 40% ABV. The producer says that its whiskies are matured for at least 21 years, and names the Strathisla distillery, with the Royal Salute Vault, as the spiritual home of the brand.
Range. The core line is the 21 Year Old. According to the producer, the 62 Gun Salute is blended from over 50 malt and grain whiskies and comes in a sapphire blue decanter.
Why this matters to you. Royal Salute is a blend, not a single malt. The age on the label is the minimum age stated by the producer. The flagon is packaging, not a sign of a different drink. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1953, tribute to Elizabeth II on her coronation (according to the producer) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Blended Scotch Whisky) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | single malt and single grain Scotch whiskies |
| Cask type | oak casks up to 700 litres by law; Royal Salute Vault at Strathisla (according to the producer) |
| Minimum maturation | at least 21 years (producer's stated minimum); at least 3 years by law |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 40% ABV by law |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Royal Salute → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Pernod Ricard
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Blended Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Strathisla, 🥃 Chivas Regal
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Royal Salute has no whisky younger than 21 years?
According to the producer, yes: Royal Salute is the only whisky portfolio produced at a minimum of 21 years old.
Where does the name Royal Salute come from?
According to the producer, from the 21-gun salute; the blend was created in 1953 as a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation.
Who owns Royal Salute?
Pernod Ricard; the brand is made by Chivas Brothers.
Which distillery is the spiritual home of Royal Salute?
The producer names Strathisla distillery, where the Royal Salute Vault is located.
What are the bottles made of?
The first, in 1953, was a green porcelain flagon; the blue one came in 1960. Since 2022 the core expressions are in recyclable coated glass flagons.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky — Scotch from a single distillery: only malted barley, water and copper pot stills; at least 3 years in oak, 40% vol. or more.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
Similar
🥃 Black & White · 🥃 Loch Lomond Distillery · 🥃 Allt-a-Bhainne · 🥃 100 Pipers · 🥃 Vat 69 · 🥃 Longmorn
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Royal Salute (producer): Our Kingdom (1953 tribute to Elizabeth II, Strathisla, 21-gun salute, minimum age 21 years, flagons 1953-2022)
- Royal Salute (producer): 62 Gun Salute, The Ultimate Honour (over 50 malt and grain whiskies, sapphire blue decanter)
- Pernod Ricard: Our brands (Royal Salute among the group's brands)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: Scotch Whisky and Blended Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)