Royal Salute's 21 Year Old Estancia Edition pays homage to Argentina's famous wine and polo culture
Cover Royal Salute's 21 Year Old Estancia Edition

Royal Salute's 21 Year Old Polo Estancia Edition also distinguishes itself by ageing in Malbec wine casks

Imagine this: A whisky made by one of the most distinguished brands in the world, a full-bodied, velvety liquid exuding rich hints of raspberry and blackberry, gently spiced with cinnamon.

Meet the Royal Salute 21 Year Old (YO) Polo Estancia Edition, a new addition in the Royal Salute Polo Collection that celebrates Argentina as an iconic polo destination. It's also the first whisky in brand’s portfolio to be fully finished in Malbec wine casks.

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Polo is a highly popular sport in Argentina, with eight of the world's top ten players coming from there (Photo: Unsplash)
Above Polo is a popular sport in Argentina, with eight of the world's top ten players coming from there (Photo: Unsplash)

Royal Salute Master Blender Sandy Hyslop says a lot of love and dedication went into creating the drink’s distinct tastes because it was crucial that they captured the spirit of fine wine and polo, two things that Argentina is best known for. 

“For this unique expression, we were able to perfectly integrate the robust and highly recognisable flavours of Malbec wine casks with our rich whiskies, all aged for a minimum of 21 years—a task that requires constant care and attention,” he says.

“Incorporating a Malbec wine finish has not only allowed us to give the blend a new dimension, it also helps to tell the story of Argentina’s polo lifestyle in a multi-faceted way.”

Argentina has 3,000 registered polo players, more than any other country. Eight of the top 10 polo players in the world also hail from Argentina.

Malbec is a popular wine that takes up about half of Argentina’s wine exports, while ‘estancia’ refers to private plots of South American land traditionally used for raising cattle. Think of it as the Argentine equivalent of a cowboy’s ranch, representing a bold, outdoorsy lifestyle.

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The Estancia Edition comes in a hand-crafted porcelain flagon
Above The 21 YO Polo Estancia Edition comes in a handcrafted porcelain flagon

The Royal Salute 21 YO Polo Estancia Edition comes in a handcrafted porcelain flagon in a deep terracotta glaze with gold details inspired by the hues of Argentinian sunsets. Its gift box is adorned with lavish illustrations depicting the sidelines of a polo match: close your eyes, and you can almost hear the galloping hoofs of the horses.

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During the online tasting session, Royal Salute brand ambassador Jasper Epsom relates how Royal Salute has a long association with the world of polo based on their shared values of honour, skill, integrity and respect. Apart from sponsoring international tournaments from US to South Korea, the brand also frequently pay homage to the sport in its creation, namely the 21 YO Polo Edition (2017), the 21 YO Beach Polo Edition (2018), and the 21 YO Snow Polo Edition (2019).

“The key point about making these limited editions is to give our blending team the opportunity to challenge the status quo," notes Epsom. "They get to discover new casks which are not only fantastic in their own right, but are in some way are connected to the theme of that whisky. In the case of the Estancia Edition, I think the theme has been perfectly executed, a perfect offering that celebrates the worlds of wine, whisky and polo.”

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