The ‘King of Whisky’ encapsulates the stunning wintery setting of Snow Polo in first-ever blended grain Scotch Whisky, revealed as a new tribute to the Sport of Kings.
The “King of Whisky,” Royal Salute – known for its exceptional portfolio of rare and precious whiskies – has unveiled the highly anticipated third expression of its annual Polo Collection and the first-ever blended grain whisky in the Royal Salute collection; the 21 Year Old Snow Polo Edition.
Drawing inspiration from the stunning wintery backdrops of the snow sport, the all-new limited-edition Scotch has been expertly developed by Royal Salute Master Blender Sandy Hyslop and endorsed by former England Polo Team Captain and Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador Malcolm Borwick, paying the perfect tribute to the graceful spirit of the game and the beauty of the snow-capped mountains in the background.
Taking an innovative approach to the art of blending is at the heart of Royal Salute, and this new expression is no exception, being the first blended grain whisky in the entire Royal Salute portfolio. The all-new Scotch is carefully crafted at a special strength, resulting in a higher ABV than all others whiskies in the Royal Salute collection, at 46.5% which is fittingly the latitude coordinates of St Moritz – the birthplace of snow polo. The delightful blend is distinctively sweet and rich with elegantly layered flavours of vanilla and toffee, followed by a long, smooth finish, best enjoyed over fresh ice to release its depth of flavour.
This limited edition comes as a new celebration of the ‘King of Whisky’s’ longstanding affinity with polo, the Sport of Kings. Dating back over a decade, Royal Salute continues today to support a global programme of polo events spanning four continents, and snow polo is no exception, making for a contemporary take on the traditional sport. Started 35 years ago on the frozen lakes of St Moritz, Switzerland, snow polo is now enjoyed around the globe from Aspen, USA to Cortina, Italy and Tianjin, China. Playing in such unique locations requires heightened dexterity, courage and concentration from elite players, in addition to the core values of honour, integrity and respect – characteristics that are in the very DNA of Royal Salute.
Commenting on the new expression, Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador Malcolm Borwick said: “Snow polo is a spectator sport like no other with each match delivering an undeniably thrilling atmosphere, set in the breath-taking scenery of immaculate snow-peaked mountains. Royal Salute understands polo and the lifestyle it represents both on and off the field so well, it’s an honour to be able to help open up the world of polo through the Royal Salute Polo Collection and the global partnerships it has formed over the last ten years. With this collection, we’ve been unveiling a new facet of the polo world with each limited edition, and the Snow Polo Edition is one of our boldest yet.”
The limited-edition is presented in a vibrant and stunning gift box inspired by vintage Alpine scenes, and once again features Malcolm Borwick’s signature red helmet. Inside, the liquid is elegantly housed in Royal Salute’s iconic porcelain flagon, freshly dressed in white and silver tones that evoke the style and grandeur of the winter sport.
Royal Salute’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop added of the new blend: “Each of the existing blends within the Polo Collection has their own personality, and the Snow Polo Edition is a standout new addition with an extensive depth of flavour and fresh new look. Being at the helm of the blending team behind Royal Salute, I’m always looking for new inspiration, and Snow Polo has proven to be one of the richest sources yet for creativity and innovation. To capture the apposition of the intensity of the game against the graceful elegance of the backdrop associated with Snow Polo, it felt like the perfect opportunity to craft the very first blended grain whisky in our portfolio and I couldn’t be prouder of the result.”
The Royal Salute 21 Year Old Snow Polo Edition will be released for a limited time in November 2019, available at select luxury retailers worldwide at an RRP $155 USD.