Royal Salute, the master of exceptionally aged Scotch whisky, announces the next chapter of its Fashion Collection, partnering with visionary designer Harris Reed. The collaboration captures the craftsmanship, elegance, and extraordinary creativity of both partners in an audacious new expression; the Royal Salute 21 Year Old Harris Reed Edition.
Kick-starting a journey of true collaboration, Royal Salute Master Blender Sandy Hyslop hosted Harris Reed for a private blending session at the iconic Strathisla Distillery in Speyside, Scotland where together they crafted the bold new 21 Year Old blend.
To dress the new Scotch whisky, Harris Reed – renowned for his perfectly crafted demi-couture designs, gender-fluid fashion and A-list celebrity following – took inspiration from his own signature headpieces and Royal Salute’s heritage story to create a modern interpretation of a royal crown. A striking halo of feathers adorns each theatrical flagon design, juxtaposing traditional regal cues and capturing the innovative edge that is at the core of the Fashion Collection. The design is cast in three colourways, each individually stunning and together enticing fashion royalty and collectors alike.
Inside the flagon, the exceptional new Scotch captures all the superior characteristics of Royal Salute’s hallmark style, intertwined with new notes of distinction. Through meticulous testing and ‘four-hands’ creative development between Sandy Hyslop and Harris Reed, the Royal Salute 21 Year Old Harris Reed Edition marries the finest Scotch whiskies within Royal Salute’s enviable inventory. Together the two masters of their crafts ensured that the designer’s vision and design aesthetics for the flagons seamlessly translated into the liquid within.
The 21 Year Old Scotch is a beautifully balanced blend including sherry-matured Braeval whisky, bringing notes of raisins and spice. Chosen for its evocation of Reed’s childhood memories, this liquid is married with malts matured in American oak barrels for heightened fruit and sweet notes. To perfectly round off this already superb blend, the rare inclusion of a grain whisky finished in charred virgin oak barrels intertwines layers of vanilla into a luxuriously creamy texture.
Harris Reed shared his thoughts on the partnership: “I always strive to focus my creativity on magnifying what’s on the inside, and diving into the depths of Royal Salute’s unique heritage and our shared passion for craft and pushing creative boundaries became a rich source of inspiration throughout our collaboration. Luxury is something to collect and treasure, and I am so delighted to share such an exceptional whisky that can be enjoyed and talked about around the globe.”
Catapulting the collaboration to stylistic new heights, Harris Reed has also designed an exclusive fashion collection of three distinct looks, inspired by the three flagon designs and accompanied by matching bespoke headpieces that showcase the designer’s famed style and signify a new royalty coming to power in a theatrically magical way. Royal Salute enlisted praised female director Ruth Hogben to capture Harris Reed’s journey of creativity, culminating in iconic supermodel Erin O’Connor perfectly embodying the inspiration behind this collaboration dressed in a fourth bespoke Harris Reed creation for Royal Salute.
The release of the Royal Salute 21 Year Old Harris Reed Edition on 12th September 2024 will coincide with London Fashion Week. Available across select luxury retailers worldwide, it will come with an RRP of $248 USD. For more information and to discover the film and Harris Reed’s capsule collection for Royal Salute, follow @royalsalute or visit royalsalute.com.
