Chivas Royal Salute 21 year old Whisky

What a beautiful container.  The blue porcelain flagon stands out on my whisky shelf.  The Chivas Regal Royal Salute 21 year old blended Scotch whisky is produced by Chivas Brothers.

Chivas Brothers trace its roots to the opening of a grocery store in Aberdeen in 1801. The grocery store took the name Chivas Brothers from the 17th century House of Schivas, a large house in the town of the Schivas in Aberdeenshire.

The store sold luxury food items such as coffee, exotic spices, French brandies, and Caribbean rums to wealthy customers. As the business grew, Chivas Brothers  gained a reputation for supplying smooth malt whiskies of the highest quality.

In 1842, Chivas Brothers were requested to supply provisions to the royal family at Balmoral Castle upon Queen Victoria’s first visit to Scotland. The Royal Salute brand’s home is Strathisla Distillery at Keith, Moray, Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1786 on the banks of the River Isla.

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It is the oldest working distillery in the Highlands of Scotland. Chivas Brothers purchased Strathisla in 1950 to safeguard this natural sweet malt for Chivas Regal whisky.

Strathisla single malt is one of the malt whiskies used as part of the Chivas Regal blend.  Launched in 1953, this Chivas Royal Salute 21 year old blended whisky served as a tribute to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Named after the traditional 21-gun salute, this blended whisky has been aged for at least  21 years.

The Chivas Royal Solute 21 year old whisky is bottled in porcelain flagons, manufactured by Wade Porcelain. The flask incorporates the image of Robert the Bruce and bearing a Gaelic motto.

Chivas Regal Royal Salute 21 year old Whisky Review

Inspired by the jewels in the Coronation crown, it is packaged in three collectable colours: sapphire, ruby and emerald. I have the sapphire Royal Salute.

ABV: 40%

COLOUR: This is quite a dark whisky. The colour is close to amber, and it is reasonably oily.

NOSE: The Chivas Royal Salute 21 yo whisky has a very delicate nose.  There are notes of vanilla and caramel with lots of fresh-cut flowers. The fresh-cut flowers become more pronounced after adding a few drops of water.  There are very subtle hints of smoke in the background.

PALATE: It is very smooth. Tasting it brings notes of vanilla and sweetness to the palate. There is an abundance of fresh fruit and little hints of smoke. It is not the most complex whisky and quite thin on the mouth. But the flavours of oak and barley combine with fresh fruit and becomes amazingly balanced. There are faint hints of spice and ginger.

FINISH: The whisky finish ends in notes of spice and toffee. The Royal Salute has a medium-long finish.

RATING: EXCELLENT

The sapphire flask is a beautiful addition to any bottle collection. I had another glass and for me, wanting a second glass, is always the double-check to see if my rating is correct. If we share a second glass it is a whisky worth spending some quality time around. It is delectable.

Other releases from the Chivas Royal Salute stable that I have tried include the Chivas Regal 12 year old whisky and the Chivas Regal Extra whisky.

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