For the past 15 years, Royal Salute has been fostering a relationship with polo, the horseback sport traditionally associated with royalty and prestige. This has manifested itself as the Polo Collection—a series of blended whiskies in the brand’s bold and playful style, inspired by the cities and locales around the world where polo is played. The most recent addition to this collection is the Royal Salute 21 Year Old Miami Polo Edition (RM1,128).
Miami is one of those cities that has become firmly entrenched in the public consciousness—a place of tropical beaches and palm trees, of nightlife and parties, and, most of all, glamour. It is also home to numerous exclusive polo clubs, and hosts the Beach Polo World Cup, Miami Beach, the largest beach polo event in the world. This vivacious pulse inspired Sandy Hyslop, Royal Salute Master Blender, to create the brand’s first whisky finished in a combination of first-full bourbon and first-fill rye casks. The latter adds a punchy spiciness to the blend—ginger and cinnamon on top of the usual notes of vanilla and honey. On the palate, it is warm and full-bodied, and though there is some fruit presence—with a hint of coconut, no less—it is not especially sweet, and quite silky throughout all the way to the surprisingly complex finish. It is bottled at 40 per cent ABV.
In the typically colourful style of the Polo collection, the Miami Edition is bottled in a vibrant pink version of the brand’s signature flagon. It comes in a presentation box with artwork depicting a scene of a polo club constructed in Miami’s art deco style, with a match in progress in the foreground.
Malaysia may be some 16,000km from Miami, but that did not stop Royal Salute importing some of its glamour for the local launch of the Miami Polo Edition. It was held in Johor, at Ember Beach Club—just down the road from the villas of luxury resort One&Only Desaru Coast. It might not be Miami, but the sandy beach, dramatic sunset, and pool- and bar-side lounging strikes a similar tone. Beachside activities included croquet, cornhole, and a pair of horses for that authentic equestrian touch. Dinner was a six-course meal paired with several Royal Salute whiskies: the Miami Polo Edition accompanied the sea bass sashimi starter, while the classic Royal Salute 21 Year Old The Signature Blend was paired with the Lobster entrée. A perennial favourite, the Royal Salute 21 Year Old The Malts Blend, provided a counterpoint to the richness of the wagyu beef and confit chicken main courses with its powerful sweetness.
