Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute Blended Scotch Whisky 1L

An ultra-luxury, high-strength blend anchored by whiskies aged no less than 40 years, presented in a hand-blown Dartington crystal decanter.

At-a-Glance:

1. Historical Context:

The Royal Salute brand was initially launched in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II with a 21 Gun Salute. The 62 Gun Salute expression is the crown jewel of the permanent collection and serves as a tribute to the highest ceremonial honour in British royal tradition—the 62 Gun Salute—a spectacle reserved only for the most significant Sovereign events.

The liquid itself is a technical masterpiece of ultra-long maturation, designed by Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard) to showcase their most extensive reserves. The blend is composed of over 50 exceptional malt and grain whiskies. The critical factor for its prestige is the age specification: the blend is anchored by whiskies aged for no less than 40 years in oak casks, with some components dating back to whiskies laid down by the very founders of the house. This verifiable minimum age of 40 years provides profound credibility and stability to the ultra-premium asset class.

The product is presented in a hand-blown Dartington crystal decanter, finished in a magnificent sapphire blue and adorned with 24-carat gold details, deliberately referencing the Stuart Sapphire in the Crown Jewels. This fusion of extreme age, liquid rarity, and high-end artistic presentation positions the 62 Gun Salute at the pinnacle of luxury Scotch.

2. Technical Specification & Variant Map:

The Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute is defined by its extreme age, high bottling strength, and luxury presentation format.

2.1 Documented variants:

• 43% ABV/100cl (1 Litre) is the standard and most commonly traded specification.
• The liquid is composed of over 50 different whiskies, all of which have a minimum age of 40 years.
• A 70cl size is also implied in the global marketplace, but the 100cl format is the prominent collector size.

Variant Matrix:

2.2 Packaging & authenticity checklist:

The primary authentication is the luxury packaging: a hand-blown Dartington crystal decanter in sapphire blue, finished with 24-carat gold detailing. The decanter features a matching crystal stopper. The minimum age of 40 years for the components is the critical liquid quality factor. Due to the ceramic/crystal nature, the seal should be inspected, though decanters with high-quality seals typically perform well in storage.

2.3 Regulatory/terminology notes:

The liquid is a Blended Scotch Whisky. The minimum age of 40 years for the components is the defining quality marker, although the packaging does not carry an explicit age statement. The 43% ABV strength is essential for managing the vibrancy and complexity of such old components.

3. Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes):

The profile is engineered for extraordinary grandeur and complexity, balancing deep oak with vibrant fruit and spice.

Nose: Incredibly aromatic, immediately layered with old sherry and leather, as well as sweet tea. The overall aroma is deep and complex.

Palate: It comes through lively with a burst of bright orchard fruits of golden apples and plums. Magnificent notes of fine dark chocolate seamlessly marry hints of warm cinnamon. The texture is extremely rich with sumptuous fruit notes.

Finish: Impressively long and enduring. It lingers luxuriously with a long, seamless finish that ends with a touch of dryness holding up against the concentrated sweetness.

With water: Not stated by the producer.

4. Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP):

The Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute is an extremely high-value asset. Its auction price reflects the high cost of the minimum 40-year-old liquid, though it trades significantly below the retail price.

Original RRP (GBP): Circa 3,899.95 GBP.

Current UK retail range (GBP, incl. VAT): Retail prices are typically around the 3,899.95 GBP mark.

Recent UK/EU auction range (GBP, hammer): 1,250.0 GBP (Sep 2023), 1,050.0 GBP (May 2023), 1,150.0 GBP (Apr 2023).

Pricing stratification: The extreme retail price incorporates the Dartington crystal decanter and 24-carat gold details. The auction hammer prices (circa 1,100 GBP - 1,250 GBP) represent the established liquid value of the minimum 40-year-old blend itself.

Liquidity & sourcing note: Liquidity is low due to its high price point. Sourcing is restricted to specialist auction houses and ultra-luxury retailers.

Price Snapshot:

5. Distillery/Bottler Snapshot (brief)

Royal Salute is the ultra-prestige brand of Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard). The blend is curated from Chivas Brothers' most extensive and rare reserves, with the core mandate that all component whiskies have a minimum age of 40 years. This liquid integrity, combined with the brand's association with the British Monarchy, defines its ultra-premium position.

6. Sourcing:

• Target formats/eras to prefer: The 100cl, 43% ABV Dartington crystal decanter is the only format.
  • Red flags to avoid: Any damage to the crystal or the 24-carat gold detailing eliminates the primary presentation value.
  • Condition thresholds (fill/box/labels): The crystal decanter and presentation case must be in pristine condition. The fill level should be excellent.
  • Margin/velocity expectations - qualitative: Velocity is low. Margin potential is substantial, especially when acquired at the lower end of the hammer price range.