Royal Salute is a blended Scotch whisky brand produced and bottled by Chivas Brothers in Strathisla Distillery in Speyside, Scotland.
Royal Salute was launched by Chivas Brothers on 2 June 1953 by in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her Coronation. Named after the ceremonial 21-gun salute that is fired from the Tower of London to mark special royal occasions, Royal Salute whiskies are aged for a minimum of 21 years, making it the only Scotch to begin its collection at exclusively 21 years-old.
The brand's distillery and visitor centre are at the Strathisla distillery, located in Speyside. The distillery was founded in 1786, and it is the oldest working distillery in the Highlands of Scotland. The Strathisla distillery is owned by Chivas Brothers, and Strathisla Single Malt is one of the malt whiskies used within the Royal Salute blend.
Royal Salute collaborated with British fashion designer Richard Quinn on a series of limited-edition 21-year-old blended Scotch whiskies as part of its Couture Collection, first unveiled during London Fashion Week in 2021. The initial release featured ceramic flagons decorated with QuinnâÂÂs signature floral designs, while a second collaboration introduced a redesigned decanter and blend.
In 2024, Royal Salute collaborated with Harris Reed to create a limited-edition 21-year-old blended Scotch as part of the brandâÂÂs Fashion Collection. Reed worked with Master Blender Sandy Hyslop to develop the blend, while the ceramic flagon design drew inspiration from ReedâÂÂs signature feathered headpieces. The expression was launched during London Fashion Week and released through selected luxury and travel retail channels. A second release, the Harris Reed Edition II, was introduced in 2025 featuring flagon designs inspired by lace motifs and a revised blend.
Royal Salute has maintained an association with the sport of polo, including collaborations with professional player Malcolm Borwick, who has served as a brand ambassador. The partnership included the release of a series of limited-edition 21-year-old whiskies known as the Polo Collection, beginning with the Polo Edition (2017) and followed by editions inspired by international polo destinations such as Argentina, India and the United States, including the Estancia Edition (2021), Jodhpur Polo Edition (2023), and Miami Polo Edition (2024). A subsequent Rio de Janeiro Polo Edition was released in 2025.
In addition to product releases, the brand sponsored polo events and tournaments, including the Snow Polo World Cup and the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup.
Royal Salute has collaborated with contemporary artists through its Art of Wonder programme, which pairs limited-edition whiskies with commissioned artworks. The initiative was launched in 2022 with Forces of Nature by Kate MccGwire, marking the first release in a series designed around collaborations with contemporary artists and inspired by whisky blending.
A second edition followed in 2023 with Conrad Shawcross, whose Time Chamber work explored the concept of time through a sculptural installation accompanying a 53-year-old blend. The series has been presented at international art events, including exhibitions at Frieze London.
Royal Salute has received awards at a number of international spirits competitions such as the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), the International Spirits Challenge (ISC), and the World Whiskies Awards (WWA).