Chivas Regal 21 yo Royal Salute
This is an old blend, Chivas launched this in 1953 in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.
The constituent malts are not known, except for the heart malt which is Strathisla. But Pernod Rickard also owns Aberlour, Allt-A-Bhainne, Braval, Glenallachie, Glenburgie, Glen Keith, Glenlivet, Glentauchers, Longmorn, Miltonduff, Scapa, Strathclyde, Tormore.
One thing about Strathisla – it’s beautiful:
A word about the ceramic flagon, time for a refresh? Looking real kitschy. Oh yes there are 3 available colours – blue, red and green, which are the colours of the jewels in HM QEII’s crown.
Nose: Rich and complex, big fresh fruit but also raisins fruitcake and leather. Well integrated. Then oak comes out and puts them all in their place with a dusting of vanilla and fistfuls of wet hay. Something exotic in here, star anise? Noses like a blend of a fruit bomb plus sherry monster held up by a lively bourbon cask.
Palette: Honied and sweet, silky smooth, big and rich as expected. Turns spicy real quick, then some vegetal notes, dry herb cabinet. Red fruit, all the while getting dryer and peppery hotter. What a seamless delivery. Very good.
Finish: Long-ish, that sort of more than medium at any rate. Drying and woody spices.
Could this be the first whisky where the palette impressed more than the nose? I had to give this one a lot of air though, maybe another half hour might have helped the nose.
Overall, very drinkable, very well integrated and ‘put together’. But that ceramic flagon needs some marketing love.
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